Boys basketball headed back to Jacksonville

Buzz Staff

For the second straight season, the boys basketball team has advanced to the Northeast Regional playoff tournament after a thrilling victory.

The Hornets scored a 68-64 overtime win Tuesday night over visiting Fort Payne in the playoffs’ sub-regional round. Chelsea will play Center Point at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Jacksonville State University in the round of 16.

A pair of Matthew Marquet free throws with less than 20 seconds remaining put Chelsea up 65-64. As the Wildcats brought the ball down the court, ball pressure by Hornet guard Sam Towery forced Fort Payne into an over-and-back, and Chelsea was able to ice the game at the free-throw line from there.

It was the second year in a row the Hornets won a thriller to get to regionals. Chelsea knocked off Albertivlle, also in overtime, last season to advance to Jacksonville.

The exciting win came on the heels of Saturday’s area tournament championship victory. In that game, Joseph Lanzi made a layup while being fouled to push the Hornets past Oxford and give them home-court advantage for Tuesday’s game.