This time, the Thunder prevails (in All-City Hoops)

LYNN – Despite being forced inside due to poor weather, the All-City League Basketball season came to a fitting and exciting conclusion on Friday evening at the Fecteau-Leary school.View Photo GalleryBoth the Heat and Thunder poured their hearts out in a double overtime thriller. But unlike the NBA finalists for which the two teams were named, this time it was the Thunder hwo prevailed, 83-82, to secure the trophy.The Thunder’s two-headed monster of Keandre Stanton (33 points) and Jake Fay (20 points) provided most of the fireworks throughout the evening. “They are absolutely one of the best combos I’ve seen,” said league director Freddy Hogan Sr. of the duo.”Stanton is a big slasher and Fay (full-scholarship to Fordham) has the long range shot. They’re both very skilled.”Despite the Thunder’s dual-performances, the Heat hung in, and not only forced a first O.T., but nearly pulled out the win.Trailing by five with under a minute to go in regulation, the Heat’s Corey Bingham (29 points) hit a pull-up three pointer from straight on to make it a one possession game. After the Heat forced a turnover, Bingham drove the lane, drawing a foul, before calmly sinking both free throws to force overtime.Bingham got right back to work in the extra session draining a three-pointer despite Fay’s hands in his face before driving for two more, opening up a five-point lead at 72-67. After a Stanton steal and finish down the other end, Bingham drove again, drawing a foul before hitting his head on the court. After briefly staying down, he got up and missed both free throws.Down three with about 15 seconds to play, the Thunder got a clutch three ball from Fay after a scramble at the top of the key. The Heat nearly won it in the final seconds but multiple chances wouldn’t fall forcing the second overtime.Stanton owned the second extra stanza, scoring all seven Thunder points and blocking a shot. The Heat got clutch three-pointers from Freddy Hogan Jr., and Quincy Imadiyi but fell just short in the end.”Those two teams played well together all season long,” explained league director Freddy Hogan Sr. “They were two of the best teams all season so it was only fitting that it would come down to a double-overtime game.”The first half ended much less closely, as the Thunder led 40-31 at the end of the opening 20 minutes. Stanton, the league MVP, scored 13 in the half, including a run of seven straight. After starting off 0-5 from the field, Fay got his stroke going in time to score 20 points, including three treys.uThe final led right into the first two games of the 20th annual Hoganz Basketball Classic.In the first game, in the Open division, Refuse to Lose defeated Hood Ink, 62-60, with Nick Lanier (Salem State) scoring 25 points. Tony Gallo (Coppin State) had 36 for Hood.In the nightcap, in the U20 division, Red Line defeated Play to Win, 77-59, with E.J. Rogers scoring 17 points.