Indians Fall Short In League Contest Against Harlem, 85-79

Harlem survived a fierce comeback by Poplar and held off the Indians, 85-79, during District 2B boys’ basketball action on Tuesday, Feb. 1.

The Indians trailed by a 10-point margin with under four minutes remaining until a free throw by Geordy Medicine Cloud and a fast-break drive by Delray Lilley pulled Poplar to 75-68. A fast-break basket by Joe Bear cut the gap to only five points.

After Harlem’s R.J. Ramone accounted for a three-point play, the Indians kept the heat on with a basket off a rebound by Dennis Red Eagle. A three-pointer by Kaniel Ricker closed the margin to 78-75 with 2:20 remaining.

Free throws by Ramone and Daniel Lawrence increased Harlem’s lead to 81-77 with 59 seconds left.

Poplar wasn’t able to score again until Bear put in a basket for an 83-79 margin with only two seconds remaining.

Bear led the Indians with 25 points. Also reaching double figures were Lilley with 13, Red Eagle with 12 and Allen Russell with 10. Rounding out Poplar’s scoring were Ricker with eight, Medicine Cloud with six and Malcom Yellowhammer with five.

Leading Harlem were Ramone with 31, Lawrence with 22 and Teagan LeValdo with 13 points.

Harlem tallied seven of the last 10 points of the first quarter to take a 29-21 advantage.

The Wildcats led by as many as 14 points in the second quarter, but a three-pointer by Bear pulled the Indians to 49-38 at the half.

Trailing by 16 points in the third quarter, Bear led the Indians back to 65-53 near the end of the period. Ricker connected on a three-pointer for a 67-56 margin after three quarters of play.