Groove tip Express 106-102
Windy City comes back from nine down in fourth
February 27, 2016
LIMA, Ohio - Five Windy City players scored in double digits to power the Groove to a 106-102 victory over the Lima Express Saturday in Midwest Professional Basketball Association action at Lima Central Catholic High School.
With the win, Windy City remains atop the league at 7-1, while Lima fell to 3-5. These same teams will meet again Sunday in a 2:05 p.m. CT tilt at LCC. It was the fourth straight loss for Lima.
Lima led Windy City 31-19 after the first quarter, leading by as many as 13. The Groove narrowed the lead to nine at halftime, 51-42, and then opened the third quarter on a 10-0 run to take a 52-51 lead with 9:47 to play on a pair of Dion Cooksey free throws. The third quarter ended up tied at 77.
Lima went back up nine in the fourth quarter, but the Groove roared back. Ray Miller tied the game at 98 on a three-point play with 1:29 to play, and Isaac Mack gave the Groove the lead at 100-98 with a pair of free throws at the 1:00 mark.
A Kyle Meyer free throw with :26.1 remaining got the lead to three at 102-99, but the Groove were able to ice the game behind free throws from Miller and C.J. Hampton.
Issac Mack led Windy City with 23 points, while Dion Cooksey pitched in with 15. Lima's Jody Hill led all scorers with 27 points, while Bryant Austin, in his return to the Express from Hong Kong, added 19.
Photo courtesy Dean Brown