NEWBERRY — Last year when the Chapman High basketball team visited the Scott Gym…the Panthers shot three free-throws after the final buzzer had sounded to win by a point.

Free-throws were once again the differential in the game with the same two teams Friday evening in the Scott Gym…as Newberry’s Pat Paul converted both attempts with 15 seconds to go as a buzzer-beating potential tying three-pointer by Chapman fell short, as the Bulldogs pulled out the 70-67 victory.

While Newberry led after the first quarter by two points…Chapman went into the locker rooms with the 34-32 advantage eight minutes later.

The Panthers also would take a two-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, 59-57.

For the evening, Chapman hit at least three baskets from behind the three-point arc in each quarter…but would only be held to one in the fourth stanza.

A Tyreese Cromer three-pointer with 1:39 left in the game, cut the Chapman lead to a mere point, 66-65.

Chapman would turn the ball over again to Newberry with a back-court violation with just under a minute to play.

With Newberry nursing just a one-point lead and Chapman with the ball…a pass out of bounds turned the ball back over to Newberry….which led to Paul getting fouled seven seconds later.

Tyriq Goodman and Nick Paul finished with 14 points apiece…including having a dunk apiece.

Cromer got all 12 of his points from behind the arc…exactly one per quarter.

Terrell Rogers finished with seven points, Paul and Zay Chalmers had six points apiece, while Kajuan Wise saw four points fall in.

Jaleel Gilliam (three points), while both Kajuan Wise and Ahmad Willis ended the Newberry (14-6, 6-2 Region 3-3A) scoring with two points apiece.

Wilson Senn for The Newberry Observer