News
»Boys snap skid with overtime thriller
Posted Local at Jan 26, 2011
Grant Strain takes the ball down the court
By Tim Huether
Bennett County snapped a five game losing skid in boys high school basketball play Thursday evening in Martin, rallying for a 65-56 thrilling overtime win over Lyman.
Bennett County led 10-6 after one quarter, in a solid defensive effort on both teams. Lyman jumped to a 19-15 lead in the second, but Bennett County made it a one point game at the break on a last second score by Kaipo Heath, set up by a pass by Dayre Evans.
The lead bounced back and forth in the third, but Heath again scored as time expired to put Bennett County on top 33-29. A quick three pointer by Grant Strain started the fourth quarter in the right direction for the Warriors, giving them their largest lead of the game so far at 36-29.
Bennett County led until the 2:10 mark of the fourth when Lyman’s Jared Anderson made two free throws for a 44-43 lead. Bennett County miscues and missed easy shots allowed Lyman to go up 48-44.
The Warriors looked like they were down and out, trailing by four with 24 seconds to play, but a strong drive to the rim for a score by Ryan Risse with 17 seconds left gave the Warriors a chance. A rare offensive foul call on the Raiders while in-bounding the ball, not only turned it over to Bennett County, but put Eli Livermont on the free throw line, where he made both shots to tie the game at 48.
Lyman pushed the ball up with eight seconds to play and their final shot was well short, sending the game to overtime.
After a Lyman free throw in the extra stanza, Livermont caught fire, draining back to back three point shots, putting Bennett County on top 54-49. A Ryan Risse score and a pair of clutch free throws by Grant Strain put the Warriors up 58-50, but the Raiders Jaelani Uthe buried a deep three pointer with 1:21 to play to cut the lead to five.
After a Warrior free throw, Hunter Schindler canned a three pointer to make it 59-56 with under a minute to play, but Bennett County made 6 of 8 free throws down the stretch while holding Lyman scoreless to win 65-56.
Strain, Livermont, Risse and Kaipo Heath all had outstanding games at both ends of the floor while several other Warrior players played well to help Bennett County end their string of losses, all in close, competitive games.
“Our kids worked hard all night and didn’t give up,” said a pleased coach Ken Soderlin. “We needed a win bad. Lyman has had our number for a long time and they always battle us tough. Free throws down the stretch was big for us.”
Ryan Risse led the Warrior scoring with 20 points. Eli Livermont added 17, Kaipo Heath 10, Grant Strain 9, Dayre Evans 5 and Wade Porch 4.
Lyman was led by Hunter Schindler’s 36 points.
Bennett County won the JV contest, 44-29 with Jacob Waln dropping in a game high 13 points. Jon McDonnell added 6, Layne Livermont 5, Kurt Puckett 4, Wade Porch 4, Corey Whirlwind Horse 3, John O’Neill 2, Kray Krolikowski 2, Barry Toczek 2, Kyler Rayhill 2, Keali’i Heath 1.