CRESTVIEW — One-by-one members of the Crestview High School boys basketball team left the locker room one last time for the 2014-2015 season on Saturday with each face telling the story.
In time the Bulldogs might take that next step back to the state finals joining the great Crestview teams of the 1980s. That time will have to wait.
In time the hurt from Saturday’s Region 1-7A finals loss to Oviedo also will lessen even if it never completely goes away.
The Bulldogs had their chances against the Lions, the defending state champions. Crestview led 45-41 with 5:58 left in the game only to see Oviedo come back and win 62-58.
Crestview-Oviedo boys basketball photos>>>
“I remember two key points in the second quarter and the fourth quarter where we had two-minute stretches where we had two or three turnovers and took some really bad shots,” Crestview Coach Greg Watson said. “And they went down and, it seemed, scored every time. If we take those two stretches out of the game then we the game.
“We just had some silly turnovers and took some crazy shots that we normally don’t throw up. If you take those four minutes out, then we win.”
Time really doesn’t heal all wounds, but it does put things in perspective.
A year ago the Bulldogs (20-10) lost to Oviedo 76-48 in the region final. Saturday’s biggest lead for the Lions (24-5) was nine points.
“It’s a lot harder (this year’s loss),” senior Dakota Childree said. “We worked a lot harder. We played a lot better and showed a lot of leadership.
“I loved it. It was fun. I loved playing for Coach Watson too.”
A battling bunch of Bulldogs refused to go away.
Andrew Adkins scored the game’s first basket for Crestview with 4:57 left in the first quarter. Oviedo’s Matt Milon, who has committed to play at Boston College, answered with a 3-pointer.
The 6-foot-4 Milon carried the Lions in the first quarter scoring eight of his 20 points as Oviedo led 12-7 after one.
Crestview opened the second quarter with a rush scoring seven unanswered points to move in front 14-2.
Marquis McClain scored a basket. Childree followed with a 3-pointer and Tay King ended the run with a score.
Oviedo’s Ivan Smith ended the Crestview run, but a 3-point play by King put the Bulldogs back on top 17-14 with 4:35 left in the half.
The Lions closed the quarter strong outscoring Crestview 12-5 to take a comfortable 29-22 lead at the break.
The teams continued to trade blows in the second half.
Rusty Moorer got untracked for the Bulldogs in the second half scoring all of his 17 points.
The Bulldogs found a way to slow Milon in the second half after he scored 13 in the first two periods.
Crestview opened the second half with a 10-3 run to tie the game a 32-32.
Crestview’s biggest lead of the game was four points, but sloppy mistakes in key moments were costly.
Lion senior Qua Harper carried Oviedo in the fourth quarter with 13 of his game high 21 points coming in the final eight minutes.
Oviedo sealed the win in the fourth quarter at the free throw line hitting 11-of-14 from the stripe.
“That’s what good teams do (hit free throws),” Watson said. “That’s why they won state last year. There have been a lot of games when we’ve been down two or three and we fouled and the other team went down and missed the front end of a one and one.
“Today they made big ones and kept extending it (the lead). We made some long shots to keep it close, but they have really good players. I’m proud of my guys, I thought they played hard and fought hard.”
The Lions led 56-47 with 50 seconds left in the game, but Crestview had one more push that fell short.
Moorer was joined in double figures by McClain with 12 points, Childree with 11 points and Adkins with 10 points.
“We came into the game confident we were going to win,” McClain said. “We just had a couple of two minute stretches we didn’t play well and made mistakes.”.
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview drops heartbreaker to Oviedo (PHOTOS, VIDEO)