Bay clips BIC in triple overtime thriller

It took three overtimes before top seeded Bay finally overcame host Buffalo Island Central in Thursday night’s semifinal action of the 2A-3 district tournament at Monette. When the dust had settled, the regular season conference champion Yellowjackets escaped with a 49-43 victory

over the determined Mustangs.

The two teams fought to a 7-7 deadlock after the opening period. Still tied at 13-all, Bay’s 6’6 post Slade Grove put the Yellowjackets on top with an inside move at the 4:47 mark of the second quarter. Bay upped their lead to 19-14 as the two teams headed to the dressing room at the half.

Trailing by three late in the third period, BIC got back to back triples from Kyle Thrasher and Blaine Wildy and took a 26-24 edge into the fourth quarter. Kaleb Dublin knocked down a 15-foot pullup jumper to begin the final frame, giving the Mustangs a 28-24 lead. Bay charged back, getting a three pointer from Aaron Jolly to close the BIC lead to a single point. A short hook shot by Grove put Bay on top 29-28 at the 6:09 mark, but Devin Pemberton’s power move gave the Mustangs the lead back with 5:10 to play.

Bay’s Dax Gibson drained a three pointer, giving the Yellowjackets the lead as the game seesawed back and forth. Dublin’s 12-footer knotted the score at 32-all at the 4:24 mark. Bay once again answered when Gibson hammered home another triple with 3:35 remaining as the Yellowjackets took a 35-32 lead. Neither team could score over the next three minutes until Blaine Wildy dropped in a short jumper and was fouled with 38 ticks left on the clock. Wildy misfired on the and one, leaving Bay clinging to a 35-34 edge. Forced to foul, the Mustangs sent Gibson to the line, where the senior guard calmly sank both ends of the one and one to put the Yellowjackets ahead 37-34 with 25 seconds left. BIC had one last chance to get even, and Wildy delivered for the Mustangs, draining a three pointer from beyond the top of the key to send the game into overtime.

Tyler Hartgen knocked down a free throw to put Bay on top 38-37 to begin the first extra period. Pemberton answered with a short bank shot, giving the Mustangs a 39-38 edge with 2:28 left. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, Wildy was whistled for his fifth foul at the 2:05 mark,

sending Gibson to the line. Gibson made one of two shots, leaving the two teams all square at 39 apiece. The Mustangs held the ball for the last shot but couldn’t convert as the two squads headed into the second overtime.

BIC got the tip to begin the second extra period and held the ball until

Dublin was fouled at the 2:20 mark. The senior point guard missed the front end of the one and one, but the Mustangs snared the rebound, and again held for the last shot. Dublin’s three-point attempt at the

buzzer just missed the mark as the second overtime ended with the two teams tied 39-39. Bay scored the first four points of the third overtime to take a 43-39 advantage. Pemberton’s two free throws at the 1:50 mark closed the gap to 43-41, but a pair of Jay Jones free throws upped the ‘Jacket lead to 45-41 at the 1:03 mark. Pemberton scored again on a nifty inside move to slice the Bay lead to 45-43 with 39 seconds left.

The Mustangs immediately fouled Gibson, but the senior knocked down both foul shots, putting Bay ahead 47-43 with 38 seconds remaining. Gibson then came

away with a steal and drove the length of the floor for the game clinching basket.

Gibson led Bay with a game high 18 points while Grove hit double digits, scoring 10. Bay sank 14-20 free throws and drilled five three pointers.

Pemberton was the top scorer for BIC, posting 16 points. Wildy finished with nine, Dublin had seven, Thrasher netted five while John Garrett Edwards and Tate Schooley added three points apiece. The Mustangs struggled from the foul line, hitting just four of 10 attempts, but managed five triples on the night.

“What a game,” said BIC Coach Gaylon Taylor. “We competed from the beginning to the end, and we had chances to win it in the first two overtimes. It hurt us when Wildy fouled out in the first overtime and

limited our offensive opportunities, but we had chances to win it on our home court and that’s what we wanted. We just need to build upon this and get ready for the regionals. I couldn’t be prouder of my kids. With the adversity this bunch has faced this year, they have come in every day and put it behind them. They have worked hard and gotten better. They are winners, regardless of what the scoreboard says. I will always be indebted to them for their effort and everything they

have given to our school.”