There have been some loud moments in the Alba-Golden gymnasium. When Luke Sutton stole the ball in the backcourt with seconds to go and tied the Boles game at 64 Friday, it was one of those moments.

It was especially loud because the Panthers had come back from not one, but three, large deficits to take the Boles game, in overtime, 72-66. 

Late in the first half, the Panthers trailed by 18 points (37-19). After the first couple of minutes in the third quarter the margin was again 18 points, (47-29), and late in the fourth quarter they were down by 13 points.

The Panthers just kept playing. They had the last four scores of the second quarter (a reverse lay-in of an offensive rebound put-back by Payton Dickenson, a 3-pointer from Samuel Olson and two Olson free throws) to close to 11 points at the halftime break. 

When play resumed, Boles really took it to Alba-Golden, scoring on drives off of turnovers and two steals and scores. The deficit quickly reverted to 18 points. 

An Olson 3-pointer and some great work by Cameron Lennon closed the Panthers to within six points in the final seconds of the third quarter. 

The Panthers were on the front foot going into the final quarter. A Wyatt Sutton block and excellent work on the boards by Sutton and company kept the Panthers close. 

Following a time-out with 5:30 to play, Boles made a charge which should have put the game away. They made an 8-point run to go up by 13 points with just a couple of minutes remaining.

Five Alba-Golden scores off the press in the final two minutes coupled with an inside bucket from Wyatt Sutton tied the game with :08 on the clock.

In the final seconds, Alba-Golden got off two great looks at the basket, but the winner didn’t fall. 

The four minutes of overtime belonged to the home side. Boles was spent, and the conditioning of the Panthers was clearly evident. 

Lennon scored on a drive to take the lead.  Alba-Golden gave up one score in overtime but dominated possession throughout. Lennon, Boogie Trimble and Dickenson added free throws to build the final margin. 

There was a good bit of grumbling in the visitors’ stands at how closely the game was officiated. Officiating, however, does not claw back from 18-point deficits. Hustle, conditioning and a belief in team authored those comebacks. It was a game to remember. 

Dickenson led Alba-Golden scorers with 16 points. He was joined in double figures by Lennon, Olson and Trimble. 

Coupled with last Wednesday’s 63-39 victory over Como-Pickton, the win gave Alba-Golden a 5-1 mark for the first half of district play, in second place behind North Hopkins.

After traveling to Cumby, the Panthers host Fruitvale Friday.