A late overtime 3-pointer by Senior Guard Kevin Marlow propelled the Sonora Raiders to a 61-59 victory over Sunny Hills.

Marlow made an impact in the closely contested battle for the Freeway League with the first placed Raiders and second placed Lancers early and often.

The senior guard scored the Raiders first six points of the game and 11 of the Raiders 15 points in the first quarter.

Sunny Hills was led in the first quarter by a Senior of their own.

Guard Ryan Shaw helped keep the Lancers close in the opening quarter by scoring 6 of their first 11 points.

Throughout most of the second quarter both teams matched each others’ makes and misses from the field but for a few moments the Lancers disrupted the pattern.

The Lancers (16-10, 5-3), through baskets by Seniors John Paek and Jacob Dibble, outscored the Raiders 7-0 in a two-minute stretch in the quarter and briefly took a one point lead.

With Sonora behind, Marlow stepped up once again and scored five straight points, including a 3-pointer, in the final two minutes of the half to retake the lead for the Raiders and put them up by four.

As the second quarter drew to a close the Raiders sustained their lead and they went into the half leading 32-28.

The game became even closer in the third quarter.

The Raiders (23-3, 7-1), who only managed seven points as a team in the third, had trouble converting from the field due to Marlow only managing two points and the rest of the team missing more than a few shots from beyond the arc and in the paint.

Sunny Hills capitalized on the Raiders shooting struggles and went on a 5-0 run to end the quarter only down by one.

Seniors Luke Ross and Shaw led the Lancers with four points each in the quarter.

At the start of the fourth quarter Sunny Hills continued their run and went up 41-39 after forward Luke Hosozawa completed a three-point play from the free throw line.

The Raiders responded to going down for only the third time in the game and went on a 7-0 run of their own to go up by five early in the fourth quarter.

Sonora could not build up on their run and pull away from the Lancers and with a minute and a half remaining a 3-pointer by Senior guard Sam Barrera tied the game up 51-51.

Moments later, Barrera found himself in position to put the Lancers ahead when a foul sent him to the free throw line with under a minute remaining.

After a timeout by Sonora the Senior failed to convert the front end of a one-and-one which led to Sonora getting the rebound and the game remaining tied.

In the final minute each team missed a go ahead basket in the paint and Sonora regained possession after a miss by Dibble.

With the shot clock off the Raiders had the opportunity to run down the clock and score a game winner.

As the clock neared triple zeros Marlow, who had six points in the fourth quarter, had the ball in his hands.

The senior sent up a 3-pointer as time expired but it fell short and without a team on top the game went into overtime.

In overtime a few key plays decided the fate of the Freeway League rivals.

With overtime nearing its end and Sunny Hills up by one, Sam Barrera found himself at the freethrow line once again.

This time he converted from the line but missed the second, which meant the Lancers only led by two instead of three.

On the very next play Raiders senior center Austin Carter hit a two-pointer to tie the game 58-58.

The Lancers responded by making a drive to the basket through Barrera.

The senior was fouled on the way into the paint and went to the line again.

As in his previous attempt, Barrera only converted one of two shots from the line.

“You got to make free throws those are fundamental things of the game,” said Sunny Hills Head Coach Joe Ok, who noted that the team missed nine free throws on the night.

Free throw troubles proved to be fatal for the Lancers late on.

Just like towards the end of regulation Marlow had the ball in his hands again.

Marlow rapidly made his way up the court and drained a 3-pointer to put Sonora ahead 61-59 with only 2.7 seconds remaining.

The Lancers went to leading scorer on the night Ryan Shaw to try and send the game into double overtime

The senior guard dribbled his way into the paint but was unable to get a shot up as time expired.

“We had a great effort but you know losing to a shot like that is rough on the whole team,” Shaw, who scored 19 points in the game, said.

With the close victory, their third in overtime in league play, the Raiders are guaranteed at least a share of the Freeway League title.

“This group has been the most resilient group I’ve ever coached,” said Sonora Head coach Mike Murphy on the overtime win, and added that “we just kinda find a way.”

“I just played my heart out, i just did everything I could and thankfully it was enough” said an overjoyed Marlow, who ended up with a game leading 31 points on the night.

Sonora can clinch the Freeway League title with a win at home against Troy on Tuesday. The Lancers will seek to rebound from the loss when they visit Buena Park on Tuesday to take on the Coyotes.