Durant Cougars Stave Off Late-Game Rally to Stop East Bay 54-51.

Durant could have the best cheering section in the county. A jam-packed student section with original, choreographed chants is enough to make any visiting team feel uncomfortable.

“Playing on our home court is huge. You have the fans behind you, you’re comfortable shooting here,” said coach Trent Tice.

East Bay was 0-3 this year versus Durant. Indian head coach Billy Teeden defended that, “they were all close games” and that it boiled down to, “making shots.”

“We haven’t shot well when we played them. It’s gonna come down to who makes their shots,” he said.

Coach Trent Tice was complimentary of the Indians. “They are a scrappy team. They won’t back down,” he said.

“It’s tough to beat a team four times.”

Andre Nation kicked off the scoring with a three-point play, after getting fouled on a strong move to the basket. AJ Nelson was in his zone as well. He made his first steal on East Bay’s second possession and took it coast to coast for the lay-up.

“I was surprised they threw it on that first steal. I was right in the passing lane,” said Nelson.

AJ finished the first half with several steals, 11 points and caused all kinds of problems for East Bay.

Andre Nation hit a three pointer to make it 8-0 in the first quarter and it looked pretty bad for East Bay. Durant’s zone defense kept the ball out of the lane and East Bay spent a lot of time passing around the perimeter, trying to find an opening.

Trailing 20-8 in the second quarter, Justin Green of East Bay got an offensive rebound and put it back for the score and got the foul. This brought the East Bay cheering section back to life.

Andre Nation put a silence to it with a monster block on East Bay’s next offensive possession. AJ Nelson got the Durant crowd on their feet when he stole another pass and took it to the other end, stretching the lead out to 26-14. Nelson was feeling it and stole the ball yet again with a coast-to-coast lay-up just before the half.

It was 33-19 and it looked like Durant had the game in hand.

Both teams came out cold in the second half. Durant was missing shots and East Bay was committing pointless fouls. The action heated up with five minutes left in the third quarter. Mike Crocker of Durant stuffed Dario Duque of East Bay and AJ Nelson got the outlet pass and laid it in. Sean McChord connected on a hook shot and Durant jumped out to a 20-point lead.

Durant was all over the offensive glass. Their shooting percentage was not great but their second chance points were critical.

Justin Green finally got it going for East Bay with a strong move to the basket, score and made free throw. Green did well banging his body in there with 6-foot-6 Mike Crocker and 6-foot-3 Divante Jenkins.

Dillion Hunter finally got his game going with a steal and three-point play on the other end. He came up with another steal, basket, foul and free throw minutes later.

At the 4:50 mark of the fourth quarter, Dario Duque hit a three-pointer that cut the lead to 10. Durant called a timeout as the East Bay cheering section rose to its feet.

East Bay was playing all out but Durant refused to come away without a basket.

Both cheering sections were on their feet chanting back and forth and after a Jessie Bellenger steal and lay-up, East Bay had cut the lead to six with 1:02 left in the game.

The Durant cheering section started in with “this-is our-house” and the East Bay side came back with their tomahawk chop chant.

With 41.2 seconds left, Justin Green blocked Mike Crocker’s shot and Dillion Hunter took to the other end for a lay-up.

The score was 54-51 with both side in full throat.

That’s when Andre Nation took over the game.

He drove to the rim, got his free throws, even though he only made one of them. On the other end he came up with a steal at the top of the key and took it all the way in for a monster dunk.

This put the lights out on East Bay. Down by six they were forced to foul to keep the game alive and it was just not enough.

It was an incredible end to an otherwise lopsided game.

“Us versus East Bay for the last two years has been like that. They can make runs on us. They are a good team,” said Coach Tice after the game.

Andre Nation finished with 23 points and made a statement. AJ Nelson did most of his damage in the first half but finished with 16 points.

Durant will move on to host the regional finals on Saturday against Lake Wales at 7 p.m.