Orem (UT; 6-2) advanced to the championship game of the consolation bracket with an 86-77 victory over Franklin (OH; 6-2).
The victory by Orem came in the most thrilling game so far in the 2012 Beach Ball Classic as the Tigers overcame 11 ties, nine lead changes and one of the best scoring games in BBC history by Franklin’s Luke Kennard. The sophomore tied Kobe Bryant (Lower Merion, PA) for sixth all-time with 43 points.
Orem, trailing 40-39 at the half, tied the game four times in the opening five minutes of the second half but could not overtake the Wildcats until Jordan Darger’s layup with 10:48 to play gave Orem a 55-54 lead.
With the game tied at 72-72 with 4:28 to play in regulation, Zach Hunsaker connected on a 3-pointer that gave Orem the lead for good at 75-72 with just 4:03 on the clock. The Tigers connected on 9-of-9 from the free throw line in the closing minute of the contest to ice the victory.
Orem was led by Hunsaker’s 21 points while Cooper Holt and Dalton Nixon each recorded 18 points for the Tigers.
Kennard’s 43 points gave him 98 points for the three games which Franklin played during the Beach Ball Classic, ranking seventh all-time at the BBC. Travis Lakins added 20 points for Franklin and broke the Tigers’ all-time career record for 3-point field goals made.
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