Rushford-Peterson’s Comeback Falls Short In Double OT
It was a game for the ages at Williams Arena in Class A Quarterfinal Action Thursday evening. The Rushford-Peterson Trojans hit two buzzer-beaters, one to force OT and another to force the second extra sessions. In the end, the Trojans fell to Cass Lake-Bena 63-61.
The Trojans got great play from many different players, as four players saw themselves in double figures. Yet, it was the turnovers, something that the Trojans don't do very often, that came back to bite them.
R-P turned the ball over 20 times, that and gave way to the Panthers to get their offense going. They led by 3, 49-46 when Payton Hahn hit a 3 at the buzzer to send it to OT. Ben Ansell was the hero in the extra session, grabbing a rebound and getting the put back to go to tie it up at 54 to send it to double OT.
The Panthers did a really good job of pressuring the ball on the defensive side, and they also connected on eight 3's, five of them coming from Noah DeLapaz.
With the Panthers hitting shots they found themselves with a 4 points lead with about 20 seconds to go in the half, 25-21. Landon Skalet then hit a 3 at the buzzer before the break, to give the Trojans a little momentum into halftime.
R-P came storming out of the second half, taking a 28-23 lead early, but the Panthers came right back and took a commanding 2nd-half lead after a three from DeLapaz with 9:20 to go, making the score 37-35.
The Trojans continued to battle, despite the lead growing and eventually, the game went into the extra sessions, but the Panthers were good enough at the line to seal the victory.
R-P was led by Ansell's 17 points and six rebounds, while Skalet added 12, Hahn had 13 and Jacob Paulson had 10 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out late in the second half.
DeLapaz had 15 to lead the Panthers, who also got 13 from Jarell Jacobs.
A phenomenal game that just didn't go the Trojans way. R-P will now take on Heritage Christian Academy at Noon today! Pregame show will start at 11:45am on 103.1 KFIL.
KFIL Subway Player of the Game (R-P) - Ben Ansell
KFIL Subway Player of the Game (CL-B) - Noah DeLapaz
Kingsley Mercantile Game Ball (R-P) - Payton Hahn