Fair squanders lead, wins in double overtime

Host Little Rock Fair defeated Sheridan 69-65 in two overtimes Tuesday night to keep its faint playoff hopes alive in the 5A-South Conference.

That much, Fair Coach Charlie Johnson understood.

But the game, a 40-minute affair that included a five-minute scoreless stretch by the War Eagles in the second quarter and a four-point third quarter, that was more difficult to comprehend.

“That was ridiculous,” Johnson said. “There are no words to describe what it was.”

Fair (10-13, 5-7) led 17-7 after one quarter and 21-7 early in the second quarter, and the War Eagles looked ready to cruise.

But Sheridan (15-9, 5-7) countered Fair’s speed and quickness with the inside presence of 6-6 junior center Tyler Cacciatori (21 points, 17 rebounds) and the outside shooting of Jairus Adams, who hit four three-pointers en route to 24 points.

It was two free throws by Cacciatori with eight seconds left to play in the fourth quarter that gave the Yellowjackets a 48-46 lead, and Fair needed to go the length of the court to tie or win the game.

Senior guard Jacori Cranford took the inbound pass and scooted along the sideline so quickly there were still two seconds left when he was fouled under the basket.

He made both free throws, something Johnson said he expected him to do.

“He’s a senior,” Johnson said of Cranford, who finished with 17 points, including 9 of 12 from the free-throw line. “That stuff shouldn’t bother him.”

The War Eagles went to Cranford, Erlon Boose (10) and Braylon Haynie, who led both teams with 28 points.

“He should have had 30,” Johnson said, “because he missed a layup.”