LUCASVILLE — A bad start and tough-luck finish erased everything good in between.

That was the story of the game for the Green Bobcats who lost a 62-61 heartbreaker to the Leesburg Fairfield Lions Tuesday in the Division IV sectional semifinals.

“We didn’t get off to a good start and we didn’t play as well as we had hoped. We were only down two at the end of the first quarter and we didn’t feel good about it,” Green coach Kevin Lewis said.

“We came out and tied the game and started to play better, but then we just didn’t get it done offensively or defensively.”

The last-second loss overshadowed some strong performances by Green senior point guard Derek Lewis and senior center Brian Ramey.

Derek Lewis had 20 points including three 3-pointers and handed out seven assists. Senior center Brian Ramey scored 17 points to go with 10 rebounds. Senior John Dawson had six rebounds while junior Nathan Patten scored 10 points.

Tyler Priest scored 18 points and Scott Priest 13 for Leesburg Fairfield (9-12).

Fairfield took a 15-13 lead in the first quarter as Scott Priest had six points. Ramey and Lewis combined for all of Green’s points.

Green managed just six points in the second quarter as Fairfield pulled away to a 28-19 halftime lead.

Nathan Patten scored all 10 of his points in the third quarer as Green pulled toto a 48-48 tie at the end of the third quarter.

“Our kids really responded in the third quarter and we got the game going up an down,” coach Lewis said.

The lead went back-and-forth in the fourth quarter until Andrew McKay hit a 3-pointer with 30 seconds left to give Fairfield the lead.

Green came back to regain the lead at 61-60 on a short jumper by Derek Lewis with eight seconds to go.

After a timeout, Fairfield missed a shot but McKay the rebound and put back up a 7-footer at the buzzer for the winning shot.

“We didn’t get the stop we wanted at the end and we didn’t get the board we needed,” coach Lewis said.

Coach Lewis gave his seniors Ramey, John Dawson, John Bowen and Derek Lewis a final pat on the back for the 12-9 season.

“We had a successful season. We had four good seniors who gave us a lot of effort not only in this game but the entire season. They’ve meant a lot to this program throughout their careers,” coach Lewis said.

Fairfield15132014=62

Green1362913=61

LEESBURG FAIRFIELD (9-12): Kip Shoemaker 3 1 0-0 9, Andrew McKay 3 1 0-0 9, Zach Hanenkrat 1 0 0-0 2, Scott Priest 3 2 1-3 13, Tyler Priest 9 0 0-1 18, Heath Link 0 0 1-2 1, Eric Smith 3 0 4-6 10. Totals: 21

4

6-12

62. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

GREEN (12-9): Derek Lewis 3 3 5-7 20, John Bowen 1 0 0-0 2, Nathan Patten 0 3 1-2 10, Brian Ramey 7 1 0-0 17, Ian Kelley 3 0 0-0 6, John Dawson 3 0 0-0 6. Totals: 24-51

(7)

6-9

61. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None. Turnovers: 11. Assists:1 2 (Lewis 7). Rebounds: 29 (Ramey 10, Dawson 6).