By LLOYD COMBS
for the Daily Telegraph
HURLEY — Controversy surrounded Hurley's one-point loss at Council last month. It returned when the two clubs met at Hurley.
Nick Gibson scored five points in overtime to help the Rebels pull out a 63-61 win over the Cobras in a Black Diamond District and Crooked Road Conference thriller Friday night.
Hurley had an apparent game-winning shot waved off at the buzzer at the end of regulation. After a conference the officals ruled Dylan Billiter's shot hit the support above the backboard before it dropped in the basket.
Gibson hit two free throws five seconds into the overtime period and the Rebels never relinquished their lead.
Billiter and Brady Justice scored and Gibson added two more free throws in the extra period and both Josh Viers and Ty Mackey hit 3-pointers for Council.
Viers' three got the Cobras within 60-58 with 50 seconds remaining. Chad Estep hit two free throws for Hurley to make it 62-58 and Mackey's left corner trey made it 62-61 with 30 seconds left.
Hurley missed two free throws seconds later and Council turned the ball over on an offensive foul. Gibson added a free throw with 5.3 seconds remaining and Council missed a runner from the lane at the buzzer.
Billiter scored 17 points and Justice finished with 16 for Hurley. Billy Stacy hauled in 11 rebounds.
Josh Viers scored a game-high 23 and Lucas Barton tossed in 20 for Council.
"Both teams played really hard and played a good defensive game," said Hurley coach Mark Cooper, who didn't get a foul call at the end of his club's loss at Council. "You hate to see anybody lose one like this.
"We just played maybe a little better at the end and pulled one out. I'm proud of my kids we deserved some wins, I thought we should have had one at Council and maybe it's karma that it worked out here."
Council was upset over a technical foul on its bench with 1:50 remaining in overtime. The technical came after Council coach Patrick Wade shouted "box out" to his players with a Hurley player at the free throw line.
"As a coach all you can ask of your players is to perform andexecute," said Wade, who elected not to comment directly on any calls.
"I thought my players could not have done a better job of executing, despite extenuating circumstances beyond our control and beyond (Hurley's)