By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

What a way to kick off the new year.

The Callaway Cavaliers, playing their first game in more than two weeks, outlasted the Greenville Patriots 81-80 in overtime Saturday night at Hogansville Elementary School.

Quantavius Leslie made the game-winning basket with 23 seconds left, and the senior finished with a game-high 30 points.

The game ended with Greenville’s Kentavious Caldwell just missing on a shot from half-court.

“The kids showed a lot of heart,” Callaway head coach Greg Moultrie said. “They fought through the overtime, and we pulled it out in the end.”

The Cavs (7-2) appeared headed toward a victory in regulation, but Greenville’s Kenarious Gates tied it on a putback as time expired, and the game headed into overtime tied 69-69.

Greenville (8-5) led by as many as three points in overtime when Caldwell made a 3-pointer, but the Cavs went ahead 80-79 when Leslie completed a three-point play with 52 seconds left.

The Patriots reclaimed a one-point lead when Mario Alford made two free throws with 42 seconds left, but it was Leslie who made the last and biggest shot of the game.

Falling to his left, Leslie managed to get the shot away from about 10 feet, and it found the net to put the Cavs ahead 81-80.

The Patriots had two possessions in the game’s closing seconds, but they were unable to find any late magic.

Leslie, who scored 39 points in last year’s state-tournament loss to Dade County, was the difference.

“It’s great to have a special player like Quantavius, and it carries over to the other players,” Moultrie said. “And it uplifts everybody else.”

The Cavs also got a big game from senior quarter D.J. Rutledge, who scored 22 points, including six in a row at one point in the fourth quarter.

At one point in the final quarter, Rutledge scored back-to-back buckets on offensive rebounds to put his team up by five.

“D.J. had a big ballgame for us,” Moultrie said. “He controlled the board for us and made some big plays.”­­

Early on, the Cavs appeared headed for a blowout victory.

They scored the game’s first six points, and they were up 15-4 late in the first quarter before Greenville went on a 6-0 to run close the deficit to six.

The Patriots carried their momentum into the second period, outscoring the Cavaliers 21-14 to seize a 31-29 lead at the break.

Caldwell hit back-to-back 3-pointers late in the half to put Greenville on top.

The Patriots were up by as many as five points in the third period, but the Cavs went back ahead with a 6-0 run, and they led 51-49 heading into the final quarter.

It was tied 55-55 at the 5:47 mark, but Callaway seemed to take control from there, and when Rutledge finished his personal 6-0 run, Greenville was down 67-62 with 30 seconds left.

It wasn’t over, though.

An Alford 3-pointer got the Patriots within two, and after the Cavs missed some crucial free throws, Gates pulled down an offensive rebound and scored as the clock expired, setting up the dramatic four-minute overtime period.

“No matter the circumstances, you adapt and overcome and play through it,” Moultrie said. “It showed tonight.”

In Saturday’s girls’ game, a slow start doomed Callaway.

Greenville charged to a 25-4 lead after the first period on the way to a 73-29 victory.

Alexis Rutledge led Callaway with 11 points, while Shakeela Rutledge scored nine.

Callaway returns to Region 5-AA play Tuesday with a game at Crawford County.