East Meck boys’ basketball holds off Providence in inaugural conference title win

Providence’s comeback came up one point short Friday night, and East Mecklenburg came away with the inaugural Southwestern 7A/8A boys’ tournament championship.

The Eagles held on for a 53-52 victory at Ballantyne Ridge, and the game’s closing moments contained plenty of plot twists.

The game’s final plays came at the free throw line, after Providence’s Henry Siegel was fouled by East Meck’s Bryon Ruff while battling for a loose ball with 0.7 seconds left.

The Panthers (15-10) trailed 53-51, and Siegel went to the line with two free throws.

His first attempt bounced off the rim, flew 3 feet into the air, and then descended through the hoop.

East Meck coach Joseph Gripper called a timeout. After a minute’s break, Siegel got his second shot. That one hit the back of the rim, then the front of the rim — and bounced out.

There were plenty of chances for either team to win the game earlier.

The Eagles (18-9), the tournament’s top seed, missed five of six free throws in the closing 69 seconds. Providence turned the ball over twice.

East Meck had taken a 52-45 lead with 4:37 remaining on a three-pointer by Ruff.

But the Panthers came back, as Caleb Gaither scored on a layup and then on a three-pointer with 3:31 to play. That left Providence down 52-48.

East Meck went into a stall, and Providence eventually sent the Eagles to the foul line. That started the chaotic 69 seconds, which included seven missed free throws, four turnovers, and several missed shots.

The only field goal in that stretch was by Siegel, on a 10-foot jump shot with 13.4 seconds to play. That brought Providence to within 53-51.

The conference championship was the first for East Mecklenburg in 19 years, since the Eagles’ 2007-08 squad that finished 28-4 and beat Apex for the 4A state title.