CLAYTON — Northmont went two for eight at the free throw line in the fourth quarter Tuesday night to let an eight point lead over Springboro slip away. The Panthers sank all eight of their free throws, including two early in the final eight minutes.

The Panthers rallied with a trio of three-pointers in the final period to post a 50-49 victory over the Thunderbolts.

The victory was Springboro’s fifth straight as the Panthers improved to 4-1 in Greater Western Ohio Conference play and 6-1 overall. Northmont dropped to 2-3 in the GWOC and 4-3 overall.

Will Yates came up with a steal and scored inside while Maxim Butler, Carson Brigger, and Drew Davis each buried a three-pointer in the final period.

Brigger delivered the death blow from beyond the arc with 47 seconds left to put the Panthers on top 50-49.

Northmont had possession but couldn’t find an open shot and called timeout with 34 seconds left. The Thunderbolts put up a shot with less than 10 seconds remaining that missed the mark but the ball went out of bounds when a Springboro player lost control of the rebound.

The Thunderbolts put up another shot that wouldn’t fall and both teams scrambled to gain control of the rebound. Bodies crashed on the floor as players from both teams tried to snare the loose ball.

The Panthers finally gained control just before the buzzer to walk away with the one point victory.

“Down the stretch we went oh-for-four at the line in a critical juncture in the game, and those can be the difference in a game sometimes,” said Northmont coach Darnell Hoskins.

“Missed assignments late in the game also hurt us defensively,” Hoskins said. “We just executed poorly down the stretch. That’s me. I’ve got to do a better job preparing them for moments like that down the stretch.

“We’ve got to put the ball in the right guys hands that can make free throws and reiterate defensive assignments. That is me. That is coaching, so coaching lost this game tonight. I will take that on the chin and I will fix it,” Hoskins added.

Northmont guard B.J. Hatcher, a junior, led the Thunderbolts with 20 points. Will Yates led the Panthers with 13 while Carson Brigger tossed in 10.

SBR 12 08 15 15 – 50

NMT 09 19 11 10 – 49

Springboro: Will Yates 4-5-13, Logan Miller 1-0-3, Maxim Butler 2-2-8, Carson Brigger 4-0-10, Jaden Rambo 1-0-2, Matt Meeks 1-0-3, Drew Davis 1-0-3, Carson Guttman 2-0-5, Yuvi Bimwal 1-1-3. Totals: 17-8-50.

Northmont: B.J. Hatcher 7-4-20, Victor Drummond 2-0-4, Da’lin Wilkins 4-0-8, Danny Sluterbeck 1-0-3, Javen Vaughn 2-0-5, Chisom Ibe 2-0-4, Brady Weaver 2-0-5. Totals: 20-4-49.

Three-point field goals: Springboro 8 (Butler 2, Brigger 2, Miller, Meeks, Davis, Guttman); Northmont 5 (Hatcher 2, Sluterbeck, Vaughn, Weaver).

Records: Springboro 6-1 (4-1), Northmont 4-3 (2-3).

Reach Ron Nunnari by email: [email protected].