March 28th Charlotte NC - The PrimeTime Players survived a wild finish and protected home court with a dramatic 129–127 victory over the Queen City Vipers on Saturday afternoon at 2nd Ward High School Gymnasium.

 

From the opening tip, this matchup had the feel of a high-level offensive battle. PrimeTime set the tone early behind efficient scoring and balanced production, taking a 35–26 lead after the first quarter. The Vipers responded in the second, using strong guard play and attacking the paint to close the gap, but PrimeTime maintained a slim 67–59 advantage at halftime.

 

The second half continued at a fast pace, with both teams trading runs. Queen City’s ability to score in transition and create second-chance opportunities kept them within striking distance, while PrimeTime relied on shot-making and composure to hold onto the lead. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Players led 98–88, but the game was far from over.

 

What unfolded in the final two minutes turned into one of the most intense finishes of the season.

 

With just under two minutes remaining, PrimeTime held a 122–117 lead before the Vipers exploded on a 10–0 run, capped by a second-chance three-pointer from Tyrik Grayson, flipping the game and putting PrimeTime in a 127–122 deficit. The momentum had completely shifted, and the Vipers appeared to be in control.

 

Kerigan Farley stopped the bleeding by splitting a pair of free throws to make it 127–123. Moments later, Odell Turner delivered one of the biggest sequences of the game, stealing the inbound pass under the basket, then following a missed three with an offensive rebound and putback to cut it to 127–125.

 

Queen City looked to respond quickly with a full-court push, but Demetrius Richardson was fouled with 15.5 seconds remaining. After missing the second free throw, Turner again came up big, battling through traffic to secure the rebound and give PrimeTime one final opportunity.

 

On the ensuing possession, the Vipers committed a foul that sent Zeb Graham to the line, where he calmly knocked down two clutch free throws to tie the game at 127 with just 9.8 seconds remaining.

 

After a timeout advanced the ball, PrimeTime delivered the decisive play. James Richardson jumped the inbound pass for a steal and was immediately fouled. A technical foul was then assessed to the Vipers, adding even more pressure to the moment. Graham missed the technical free throw, but Richardson stepped to the line and buried both free throws, giving PrimeTime a 129–127 lead.

 

Queen City had one last chance, but Anthony Ray’s contested three-pointer at the buzzer fell short, sealing the win for the Players.

 

PrimeTime was led by a dominant performance from Chris Moore, who poured in 37 points on highly efficient shooting, including nine made three-pointers. James Richardson added 31 points and made the game-winning plays in the final seconds, while Jalin Alexander contributed 23 points. Cornellius Reynolds filled the stat sheet with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists, anchoring the team on both ends.

 

For the Vipers, Anthony Ray led the way with 34 points, while Tyrik Grayson added 28 and Demetrius Richardson chipped in 29 in a strong offensive showing.

 

In a game filled with runs, shot-making, and late-game drama, it was PrimeTime’s toughness, rebounding, and execution in the final possessions that made the difference as they escaped with a thrilling 129–127 victory.