Loyd Cook Photo Bears guard Ryan Smith (21) goes up for a rebound during Brownsboro’s 53-52, double-overtime win over the Athens Hornets Friday. Jacob McCarthy led the Bears with 18 points, while Smith added 16. It had it all ... a big comeback ... drama ... two overtimes ... clutch play ... a game-winning shot.

The Brownsboro Bears came from 11 down in the fourth quarter to send the game into the first of two overtime periods, as they defeated the Athens Hornets, 53-52 in a District 20- 3A matchup in Brownsboro Friday.

In the final overtime period, it was the Bears duo of Ryan Smith and Jacob McCarthy that spelled the difference.

After Athens (13-11, 1-1) made two free throws early in the second OT period, the Hornets turned it over to the Bears. McCarthy, streaking down the court, took a long pass and went up for a twohanded dunk that brought down the house and pulled Brownsboro (14-8, 1-1) back into a tie at 51 with 2:15 left on the clock.

Athens made one more free throw to take the lead again but, with 44 seconds left in the game, Smith dribbled to the right baseline, pulled up, and hit nothing but net on a mid-range jumper and the Bears were up for good at 53-52.

A long-range, three-point attempt by the Hornets drew iron but no net and the Bears secured the rebound as time expired.

There wouldn’t have been any overtime periods if not for the Bears’ fourthquarter comeback.

Athens scored the first three points of the final period, extending its lead to 42-31. The Brownsboro defense would allow only two more points over the final six minutes of the game.

Smith drove the lane to open the Bears scoring in the period. Keuntis Thompson finished off a Brownsboro fast break to pull the Bears within 42- 36.

After the lone Hornets bucket of the quarter put Athens back up by eight, McCarthy and Smith combined to hit four straight free throw attempts. Then Ryan Owens stole an Athens inbounds attempt and scored on a layup to pull the Bears within two.

Smith hit another two free throw attempts near the end of regulation to tie the score at 44, heading into overtime.

He opened overtime hitting one-of-two free throw attempts just ahead of an Athens three-pointer.

Nick Jones hit a turnaround baseline jumper to tie the game again, this time at 47.

As the defenses fought back and forth, points were hard to come by but Athens hit another jump shot from the paint with 20 seconds left in the first overtime period to go ahead again.

But, with 15 seconds left in the period, McCarthy went to the line with a chance to tie the game. He rattled home both free throws, sending the game into the second overtime.

Where Smith would hit his game-winner.

McCarthy led the Bears with 18 points while Smith added 16. Nick Jones had eight points.

Cameron Warren had five points, Owens three points, Thompson had two points and Zack Bailey had 1 points.

JV 51, Athens 39

The junior varsity Bears outscored Athens in three of the four quarters of Friday’s game held in Brownsboro, on in a 51-39 win.

After finishing the first half tied at 24, it was solid defense and consistent offense in the second half that paved the way to victory for the junior varsity squad.

Scott Spearman and Corbin Duke led the way with 12 points each. Michael O’Conner added eight points for the Bears.

Willie Miller scored five, Cody Strickland and D.Z. Moss had four points each. Deondre Taylor and Kris Bryant had two points each.