Wilks is Huntsville's Hero After Halfcourt Heave
HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Jan. 8 -- With 1.9 seconds left to play, Huntsville guard Mike Wilks sank a game-winning three-pointer as he stepped across the halfcourt line, giving the Flight an 81-80 win over the Greenville Groove on Tuesday night at the Von Braun Center.
With this win, the Flight snapped a five-game losing streak in the Von Braun Center and won their third home game of the season.
"I'm glad we won this game," said Huntsville head coach Bob Thornton. "I know it came down to the last seconds and we had a few chances to put them away, but a W is a W."
Down six points, Greenville went on 10-3 run in the fourth quarter to take a 70-69 lead at the 2:06 mark. The teams exchanged baskets until Huntsville's Jimmie "Snap" Hunter tied the game at 78 off a 27-foot three-pointer with 13.7 seconds on the clock. Greenville's Jeff Meyers responded with an 8-foot jumper to retake the lead.
Huntsville held the Groove scoreless over five minutes of play in the third quarter as the Flight scored 11 unanswered points to pull out to a 47-44 lead. Greenville responded with a 7-3 run to take a 51-50 lead before the Flight pulled away, sinking 3-of-4 free throws to end the quarter 55-51.
Greenville entered the halftime break with a 44-36 lead, capitalizing on a 23-6 run that started in the last two minutes of the first quarter and didn't end until the 3:31 mark of the second.
The Flight are 10-13, having won five of their last six games. The Groove are 13-13.
