Cold shooting dooms Boeheim’s Army in loss to Sideline Cancer

Saturday afternoon, Boeheim’s Army shot poorly for the second straight game and paid for it when Sideline Cancer ripped off a 29-4 run over nine-and-a-half minutes of play in the second half en route to a 65-48 win. The Army went a similar amount of time without a field goal as they limped out of the tournament, making the score look more respectable with a 10-0 run once Sideline Cancer was within one possession of clinching the contest.

For the second straight game, Boeheim’s Army simply could not make shots outside the paint, making just five field goals from distance. Four of them were three-pointers, two of which came in that meaningless late run.

Neither team was efficient on offense in the first half, but Sideline Cancer had the better of things at the onset of the game, getting out to an early 9-2 lead. The Army responded with ten of the final 11 points of the first quarter to knot the score.

Eric Devendorf started the run by finishing a three-on-one fast break with a lay-up, then John Gillon drained a floater in the paint. Will Rayman gathered a missed free throw and dropped the ball in to make it six straight points for Boeheim’s Army. After Sideline Cancer got a free throw, Andrew White III finished a drive on the right side of the paint, making it a 10-10 game at the end of the first session.

 

Gillon flipped a shot through to open the second quarter to make it a 12-1 run for the Army and put them in front for the first time. Rayman connected with a cutting White III for a pretty three-point-play, giving Boeheim’s Army their biggest lead at 15-12.

Sideline Cancer responded with a pair of 6-0 bursts. Donte Greene broke them up with a a pair of baskets down low, but the second run gave Sideline Cancer a 24-19 lead. Malachi Richardson rattled home a three from the left corner and Devendorf swatted an Army miss to Brandon Triche, who passed it back for an easy lay-up. The bucket knotted the score at 24, which held to halftime.

Devendorf gave Boeheim’s Army a three-point lead again in the early minutes of the third quarter. Sideline Cancer scored first, but the veteran guard popped free for a trey from the left break, then used a nice hesitation drive to get a lefty lay-in. The latter gave the Army a 29-26 lead.

Shortly over a minute later, the roof caved in on Boeheim’s Army. Of the 24 points that would be scored over the final six minutes of the third quarter, Sideline Cancer authored 20 of them, including the final 11. When the fourth started, Sideline Cancer rang up nine more markers, making it a 20-0 blitz and seizing a 57-34 lead.

Less than 90 seconds later, the Elam Ending went into effect with the winning score set at 65 and Boeheim’s Army trailing by 19. Two scores, including a triple, left Sideline Cancer just three points from victory.

The Army then had their best offensive output against a more casual Sideline Cancer defense, running up ten straight points by scoring on four straight possessions. Greene banked in a drive, then Devendorf swished a transition three. Gillon coasted through an open lane for a basket, then White III connected from the left corner for three to draw Boeheim’s Army within 62-48.

It was no matter, though, as Sideline Cancer drained a triple on the next possession to end the game.

Eric Devendorf led the Army in scoring once more, finishing with 14 points. Andrew White III had 11 points and John Gillon chipped in with ten. Donte Greene finished with eight points and a team-high nine rebounds.

For more Syracuse coverage, Like our Facebook page, follow us @TheJuiceOnline and listen to our podcast.

Avatar photo
About Jim Stechschulte 894 Articles
A 1996 graduate of Syracuse University, Jim has reported on Syracuse sports for the Syracuse University Alumni Club of Southern California on nearly a decade. He has also written a fantasy basketball column published by NBA.com. He currently resides in Syracuse.