Livingston Sinks Caldwell

LIVINGSTON—There is one thing you knew when it came to Tuesday night's Caldwell-Livingston boys basketball game: It wasn't going to be decided until late in the fourth quarter.

After all, the Chiefs had won the first two encounters between the teams this season by a combined eight points.

This time, it was Livingston's turn to grind it out in the end, outlasting Caldwell 40-38 Tuesday night.

With the game tied, Livingston junior captain Matt Fung hit a pair of free throws to give Livingston a 40-38 lead with nine seconds remaining.

Caldwell had one last opportunity to tie the game, but Dave Levinsky's jumper at the buzzer was off target.

"We just wanted to get a win especially against the team that beat us in the county tournament," Fung said.

But Caldwell coach Mike Mancino was upset at the officials call at mid-court that gave Fung an opportunity to go to the line with less than 10 seconds left.

"Let Fung hit a 3-pointer to beat us, but for the officials to make a call 35 feet from the basket is not right," Mancino said. "We have a ton of respect for Livingston and they have a great program."

The Lancers held the upper hand for much of the game, in particular, since Levinsky was in foul trouble for much of the game for the Chiefs.

Behind Sam Abam's eight points and Fung's seven, Livingston took a 21-13 lead into the second half as Levinsky had to sit the last 2:35 of the second quarter after picking up his third foul of the game.

But Mancino was able to hide Levinsky in a zone defense and the sophomore did not get his fourth foul until late in the game.

In the meantime, Levinsky helped spur Caldwell's comeback that erased Livingston's 10-point lead at 23-13 in the third quarter.

The Chiefs (12-8) rallied behind a Dave Tomkins 3-pointer and a basket each from Billy Pierce and Connor Smith to seize a 33-29 lead with just over four minutes remaining in the game.

Livingston responded and Dan Abrahams hit a big shot inside to give Livingston a 36-35 lead with 90 seconds remaining in the game.

A pair of Fung free throws stretched the lead to 38-35 with 23 seconds remaining.

On the next trip down the court, Levinsky responded with a big 3-pointer deep from the left side to tie the game at 38.

With Abrahams out of the game because of blood on his shirt, the Lancers brought the ball to midcourt and called their last timeout.

Following the timeout, Fung got the ball at midcourt where the officials called a foul on Caldwell's Rob Petoia, sending Fung to the line for the decisive free throws.

Tuesday's game was one of the last home contests of the season for the Lancers, who sported head bands for team unity.

"We just wanted to show team spirit," Fung said. "We wanted to win a home game."

Fung finished with 11 points while Abam led the Lancers with 12 points. Despite foul trouble, Levinksy led all scorers with 21 points.