In two OTs, Hornets nipped by Panthers

The Rugby Panthers outscored Harvey-Wells County by 10 in the second quarter, and then needed double overtime to defeat the Hornets, 68-62, in Rugby on Friday, January 6.

The Hornets had the hot hand to begin the game, as Tate Grossman knocked down two treys and Gabe Allmaras made another, helping HWC to a 9-4 lead with just 1:30 off the clock. The strong inside work of the Panthers' Brody Schneibel, who scored seven, and the versatility of Erik Foster, who chipped in with four more, gave Rugby a 14-13 lead after one.

Five players scored for the Panthers in the second session, with Garrett Sullivan and Jacob Ripplinger each scoring six. Sullivan's inside work, to go along with the quick shooting of Ripplinger, helped Rugby end the first half on a 12-4 run, giving the Panthers a 34-23 lead at the half.

The Hornets reversed the action in the third quarter, as they outscored Rugby 20-10. Grossman, Allmaras, Brock Fike and Noah Ziegler all connected on three-point shots for HWC. Allmaras cleaned up on the boards, scoring nine in the third as the visitors cut into the lead. Fike's three ended the third quarter scoring as the Hornets pulled to within one at 44-43.

A basket by Schneibel and a free throw by Foster moved the Rugby lead to 51-46 midway through the quarter, but Grossman scored five and the Hornets finished on a 7-2 run to move the game to OT.

Grossman's three with 2:38 left in the first overtime looked like a game- changer, but the well went dry for HWC after that. Schneibel tied the game at 57 and moved it to another OT session.

Fike's second trey of the game gave HWC their last lead at 60-59, as the Panthers dominated the rest of the way with a 9-2 run as Sullivan scored four and Ripplinger added a three pointer, making the final score 68-62.

The Panthers had a nice balanced scoring attack against HWC with Foster and Sullivan both tallying 19 points. Schneibel added 17 more for the Panthers, who improved to 4-4 overall.

HWC was led by Grossman, who had game high honors with 27 points, which included five three- pointers. Allmaras added 20 points for the Hornets, as they dropped to 4-3 overall.

Allmaras grabbed 15 boards for the Hornets, while Sullivan pulled down 12 for Rugby. The Hornets committed 17 turnovers to the Panthers' 12.

Nonregion Boys' Basketball

Rugby 68, HWC 62 2OT

at Rugby

HWC 13 10 20 10 4 5 62

Rugby 14 20 10 9 4 11 68

HWC: Tate Grossman 27, Gabe Allmaras 20, Brock Fike 10, Noah Ziegler 3, Teagan Tipton 2.

Rugby: Erik Foster 19, Garrett Sullivan 19, Brody Schneibel 17, Jacob Ripplinger 9, Bryceton Deplazes 4.

HWC Additional Stats

Rebounds: Allmaras 15, Grossman 8, Keaton Keller 6, Fike and Tipton 2, Tallen Thorson and Ziegler 1.

Assists: Keller 5, Grossman and Thorson 3, Allmaras and Fike 2, Ziegler 1.

Steals: Allmaras and Grossman 2.

Blocks: Grossman 3.

Rugby Additional Stats

Rebounds: Sullivan 12, Foster 9, Schneibel 8, Ripplinger 5, Logan Harner 4, Deplazes and Rylan Hildenbrand 2.

Assists: Harner 6, Ripplinger 5, Foster 4, Deplazes 2, Schneibel 1.

Steals: Foster, Harner and Ripplinger 2, Deplazes 1.

Blocks: Sullivan 2, Foster 1.