The Rush City boys basketball team hosted Pine City on Tuesday night.
An important game for both sides, each team came in with one win and trying to gain momentum in the conference. Not only that this was also a section game, so this had implications on playoffs, which don't seem so far away.
The game began and each side was off to a hot start, as the score board was lit up with points. Although each team got off to a good start turnovers and fouls would quickly become problems. And even though the fouls and turnovers piled up on the Dragons side, this was seemingly a non factor as they were able to build up a double digit lead over the Tigers, thanks in large part to all the three's they hit. Charlie Ausmus himself made 5 of them in the 1st half, and as a team they hit 9. The Dragons lead by as much as 13 late in the first half. The Tigers received some late contributions from bench players before half which helped them finish the half on 10-4 run and only trailed 40-35 at halftime.
The Tigers used that momentum from the end of the 1st to open up the 2nd on a nice run and closed their gap to 2 points. They were able to keep it close, until the Dragons were able to force a few turnovers and once again get their three ball to fall. Pine City had stolen momentum and quickly extended their lead. Past the halfway point of the 2nd the Tigers were forced to call a timeout as they trailed by 17 points. This proved to be the turning point in the game as with the last 8 minutes of regulation they would go on an astonishing 21-4 run to end regulation and bring it to overtime tied at 71.
As the overtime period had started both teams came out firing and traded the lead back and forth. Takeaways and free throws would be key factors in the extra time as the Tigers would lead in both categories. Because of this the Tigers were able to take a 4 point lead late in overtime. The Dragons were able to get to the charity stripe but shot only 50% and couldn't fully close the gap. Pine City had brought themselves within one of the Tigers lead, but Rush City would convert both free throws to make it a three point game once again. With 5 seconds left the Dragons had one last chance, but the Tiger defense was too tough and Pine City couldn't get off a clean shot. The Tigers won in OT 84-81!
With the win the Tigers improve to 2-9 on the season and grab their first conference victory. They'll get a chance for their 3rd win on Friday as they host Mille Lacs.
For Pine City they fall to 1-10 on the year and are still in search of that elusive first conference win. They'll head up to East Central for another crack at a win in conference play.
Scoring:
Rush City
Braeden Rood 18
William Volk 16
Owen Dick and Lukas Diedrich 11
Nolan Stepp 9
Jamison Wood 8
Matthew Kempf 7
Lincoln Gullerud 4
Pine City
Sawyer McDaniel 20
Charlies Ausmus 18
Bryer Willert 15
Austin Wiener 10
Grant Larson 7
Jace Peterson 5
Matt Blake, AJ Ostensen and Eli Fromm 2
