COLUMBIA -- It took until nearly midnight to complete, but the Capital City Cavaliers outlasted the Blair Oaks Falcons for a 57-53 overtime victory Wednesday night in the Norm Stewart Classic at Mizzou Arena.
It took 36 minutes to decide the winner in the last of eight games on Day 1 of the Classic. The penultimate game of the day -- a 71-69 double-overtime victory for Rock Bridge against North Kansas City -- delayed the original 9 p.m. tip-off between Capital City and Blair Oaks.
Capital City led 39-32 at the start of the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers' lead seesawed between five and seven points in the early going of the quarter, then the Falcons began their comeback with about four minutes remaining in regulation.
Brock Buhr of Blair Oaks drained a 3-pointer from the right corner to tie the score at 47 with 1:03 on the clock. The Cavaliers had a shot-clock violation on their ensuing possession, but the Falcons' 30-foot heave at the buzzer was off the mark, sending the game into overtime.
Hudson Moyer made 1-of-2 free throws to give Blair Oaks a one-point lead on the opening possession of overtime. Francis Samuel banked in a short jumper with 2:11 to go to put Capital City in front 49-48.
Samuel got a steal and was fouled, making both free throws, then Grady Payton scored along the baseline for a 53-48 Capital City lead with 1:23 remaining.
Blair Oaks answered with a quick 5-0 run. Moyer made 1-of-2 free throws, then got a steal, drew a foul and made both free throws. Bennett Wilde followed with a steal in the full-court press and a breakaway dunk to tie the game at 53 with 40 seconds to play.
On the ensuing Cavalier possession, Samuel drove to the basket and drew a foul with :19.8 remaining. He made both free throws to put Capital City in front by two points.
Blair Oaks called a timeout with :10.0 on the clock, but Samuel stole the inbounds pass and was fouled with :01.2 remaining. He made both free throws to give Capital City a four-point victory.
A deep 3 by Logan Hoffman gave Blair Oaks an 11-4 lead midway through the first quarter. The Falcons led by as many as nine points after a 3 by RJ Jackson and held a 16-7 advantage after one quarter.
A steal and a layup by Buhr pushed the Blair Oaks lead to double digits early in the second quarter.
Capital City answered with an 11-0 run to tie the score at 18, then Payton added to the run with a drive and a layup to put the Cavaliers in front 20-18 with 1:47 left in the first half.
The teams went into the locker room tied at 23, but Capital City dominated the start of the second half. Jaden Bauman scored on an easy layup to cap a 14-2 Cavalier run for a 37-25 lead with 3:40 to go in the third quarter. Capital City continued to hold a 39-32 advantage at the end of three quarter.
Payton was named the game's MVP, leading Capital City with a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds. Samuel finished with 14 points, going 8-of-9 at the free-throw line, and Marcus Driver and Corbin Lawson each added 12 points.
Moyer recorded a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead Blair Oaks. Wilde also reached double figures with 11 points.
Capital City (2-2) hosts Hickman on Tuesday to open Central Missouri Activities Conference play. The JV game begins at 6 p.m., with the varsity to follow at 7:30 p.m.
Blair Oaks (1-1) plays tonight at Sedalia Smith-Cotton. The JV game starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by the varsity at 7 p.m.