Flyin’ to the Hoop: Springfield dodges Cle. Heights in OT

Sam Towns’ Springfield teammates had a message for the emerging junior. Remember the free throw routine because it’s just like practice and there’s nobody here.

Except the 6-foot-7 center had all eyes at Fairmont’s Trent Arena on him with 3.5 second left in regulation and Springfield trailing Cleveland Heights by one. And, he had already missed the front end of a bonus free throw situation.

Yikes.

“I was real shook,” Towns said. “I’m like, c’mon Sam, you got this. I just focused and locked in.”

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Towns hit the biggest free throw of his Wildcats career to force overtime and Springfield posted a gut-check 73-67 defeat of Heights in the 16th annual Premier Health Flyin’ to the Hoop on Sunday night, the last of six games.

Towns hit just 1 of 4 free throws and scored five points, but he had as much to do with Springfield improving to 10-0 as anyone. RaHeim Moss led the Wildcats by hitting 12 of 16 three throws and scoring 22 points to go with eight rebounds. Leonard Taylor added 19 points and 13 rebounds and Michael Wallace added 10 points in only his second game since returning from a knee injury.

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Tyreke Smith, an Ohio State football recruit, led Heights (6-4) with 17 points and eight rebounds. A senior, he’s expected to sign with the Buckeyes within the next month.

Springfield return to Trent on Friday against Fairmont.

16th ANNUAL PREMIER HEALTH FLYIN’ TO THE HOOP

At Fairmont’s Trent Arena, Kettering

Friday’s results

Spire Institute (Ohio) 80, Fairmont 70

Findlay Prep (Nev.) 50, Huntington Prep (W.Va.) 48

Saturday’s results

Springboro girls 57, Tippecanoe 38

Xenia 67, Olentangy Liberty 60

Pickerington North 51, Princeton 38

McEachern (Ga.) 87, Trotwood-Madison 77

Prolific Prep (Calif.) 75, IMG Academy (Fla.) 71