Quincy Shootout: Link Academy fends off Wasatch Academy’s second-half surge

QUINCY — A runaway turned into a barn-burner. What else would you expect from a matchup of two teams ranked in the top 20 nationally.

It created the drama a curious and enthusiastic Blue Devil Gym crowd hoped to see.

Despite being held to six points in the first quarter of Friday night’s matchup with Link Academy in the Quincy Shootout and trailing by 17 points at halftime, Wasatch Valley stormed back in the second half, turning it into a one-possession game on two separate occasions in the final three minutes.

However, the Lions went 6 of 6 from the free-throw line in the final 2:47 to preserve a 60-54 victory.

The Tigers trimmed the 17-point halftime deficit to 46-39 by the start of the fourth quarter and pulled within 54-51 on Jeremiah Williamson’s 3-pointer with 3:20 to play. Collin Murray-Boyles bucket from the block with 2:24 to go pulled Wasatch Valley within 56-53.

Link Academy’s Elliot Cadeau and Ja’Kobe Walter combined to make four free throws to quell the rally. Walter had 14 points, while Cadeau scored 13, Cade Phillips finished with 11 and Cameron Carr scored 10. Williamson and RJ Jones led Wasatch Valley with 13 points apiece.