(Red Oak) Red Oak senior Ryan Johnson’s free throw with four seconds left in regulation tied the game and sent it into overtime in Tuesday’s boys’ basketball game at Red Oak. The Tigers held on to win in OT over Atlantic 64-61.
Both teams struggled to find the basket in the first quarter, which ended in an 11-11 tie. The second stanza proved much the same, with Red Oak holding a narrow 17-15 lead at the break.
The second half was a different story. The Tigers came out “hot,” with a 9-0 run and a 32-20 lead midway through the third quarter. The home team connected on six three-point shots along the way. Kaden Johnson and Max DeVries, led the way with two each. DeVries finished the contest with 17-points, and Kaden Johnson 12. The Tigers ended the third frame leading 37-29.
The Trojans scratched and clawed their back into the game in the fourth quarter, at one point outscoring the Tigers 15-7, closed the lead to 47-45. The loudest shot came with:26 left in regulation from Atlantic’s 6’3 sophomore, Colton Rasmussen’s two-hand-dunk, and grabbed a 50-49 lead. The Tigers responded on their end. Ryan Johnson forced a foul and connect on one of two free throws to knot the game 50-50 with 04. left to play.
Red Oak raced out to a 55-50 lead in the extra period. The Trojans closed the gap to 59-58 on Rasmussen and Dayton Templeton’s three-point baskets, but the Tigers were not going to be denied. Baylor Bergren responded with four straight free throws and held off the Trojans 64-61.
Besides Templeton’s 14, and Rasmussen’s 11-points, Carter Pellett scored 9, Jackson McLaren, 8, Ethan Sturm, 7, Garrett McLaren, 6, and Jayden Proehl scored five points.
Two other players scored in double figures for the Tigers. Hunter Gilleland finished with 16-points, Ryan Johnson, 10, and Baylor Bergren added 9.
Now 11-6 on the season, the Tigers host Nodaway Valley on Thursday. Atlantic falls to 6-12 and head to Denison on Friday night.
