Dwenger led for much of the first half thanks to their dominance on the offensive glass. The Saints were able to counter a quick start by Woodlan with a 10-2 run in the first quarter as Beau Jacquay, and Preston Ross combined for 9 points in the period. However, the Warriors were able to stick around thanks to balanced scoring and the play of Reidy, who was saddled with two fouls for much of the second period.

 

Bishop Dwenger opened up an eight-point lead to start the second half, but a 7-0 response by Woodlan closed that gap, as the game was played within a four-point margin for the rest of the half. However, Dwenger could not string together points, as the offensive glass that was kind to them in the first half was shut down by Woodlan and, in particular, Reidy.

 

A Reidy basket off a feed from Alex Miller gave Woodlan their first lead since the early minutes with just over two minutes to play in regulation. Dwenger would tie on a Jacquay basket in the post, and Woodlan would hold the ball for the final minute. But a Joe Reidy spinning jumper in the lane would glance off the rim, sending the game to overtime.

 

In the final period, an Alex Miller three-point play would start the scoring for the Warriors, as the teams would trade scores for the next few possessions. Beau Jacquay would score and get fouled with just over 10 seconds left to cut the Dwenger deficit to a pair, but his free throw would miss. Joe Reidy collected the rebound but landed on the endline, giving the ball back to the Saints with just over nine seconds left. Unfortunately, the Saints could not get a quality look in the closing moments, as a Henry O'Keefe desperation three landed well short.

 

 

Woodlan         13  13  11  16  12  -  65

Bishop Dwenger  14  15  12  12  10  -  63

 

Woodlan: Joe Reidy 25 points (8/22 FGs, 1/4 3Ps, 8/8 FTs), 13 rebs, 3 asts, 4 blks; Alex Miller 14 points (4/7 FGs, 2/4 3Ps, 4/4 FTs), 7 rebs, 5 asts; Braden Smith 11 points (1/4 FGs, 9/10 FTs); Dawson Lichty 8 points (3/4 FGs, 1/2 3Ps, 1/2 FTs), 2 rebs; DeJay Gerig 7 points (3/5 FGs, 1/1 FTs), 3 rebs

 

Bishop Dwenger: Beau Jacquay 17 points (8/14 FGs, 1/3 FTs), 7 rebs, 2 asts; Owen Shively 15 points (5/10 FGs, 4/7 3Ps, 1/3 FTs), 4 rebs; Preston Ross 8 points (3/5 FGs, 2/2 FTs), 5 rebs; Sam Campbell 7 points (3/9 FGs, 1/5 3Ps), 2 rebs, 4 asts, 3 stls; Joe Kelly 2 points (1/1 FGs), 2 rebs

 

 

Concordia avoided an upset against a game Garrett team, hanging on in the second half to win by two. The Cadets did not have a double-figure scorer but placed seven players between four and nine in the victory. Kyle Smith for Garrett claimed game-high honors with 17 points.

 

It looked as though Concordia would remain in control from the start, as they raced out to a 6-1 lead and maintained that margin by the end of the first. The Cadets would extend their lead to eight before a 7-0 run by the home squad cut it to one. But Concordia would respond thanks to Joe Tapp's second triple of the half and grab an eight-point lead heading into the locker room.

 

Kyle Smith, a 6' junior guard, would come out on fire in the third, as he scored 12 points on three three-pointers and an old-fashioned three-point play. That spark ignited the Railroaders, as they would claw back to within two heading into the final eight minutes.

 

But Concordia would respond again thanks to sophomore guard Ajani Washington, who scored the first four points of the quarter. But Washington would head to the bench after picking up his fourth foul. Garrett milked the clock and ended their possession with a Konner DeWitt jumper following an offensive rebound to tie it at 40.

 

The Cadets would take seconds off the clock before Joe Tapp would drive from the right-wing and hit a pullup in the middle of the lane with 50 seconds left. Tapp would also come up big on the defensive end, as his steal with 12 seconds left gave possession back to Concordia. Ajani Washington would be fouled, but his front end of the bonus would miss, giving Garrett a final chance with nine seconds left. But a scramble forced an off-balance Smith three at the buzzer, and it wasn't close, allowing Concordia to escape with the victory.

 

 

Concordia  11  12  13   6  -  42

Garrett     6   9  19   6  -  40

 

Concordia: Cole Hayworth 9 points (3/12 FGs, 3/3 FTs), 6 rebs, 2 asts, 2 stls; Joe Tapp 8 points (3/5 FGs, 2/4 3Ps), 2 stls; Ajani Washington 7 points (3/9 FGs, 1/3 FTs), 3 rebs; Avery Cook 5 points (1/2 3Ps, 2/2 FTs), 2 rebs, 3 asts; David Speckhard 4 points (2/6 FGs), 12 rebs; Alan Ter Molen 4 points (2/3 FGs); James Rusher 4 points (2/2 FGs)

 

Garrett: Kyle Smith 17 points (6/14 FGs, 4/9 3Ps, 1/1 FTs), 3 rebs, 2 asts, 2 stls; Konner DeWitt 7 points (3/4 FGs, 1/2 FTs), 6 rebs; Jaxson Fugate 6 points (3/6 FGs), 6 rebs; Jasen Bailey 5 points (2/4 FGs, 1/1 3Ps), 3 rebs, 2 asts; Drayton Myers 3 points (1/5 3Ps), 2 asts, 2 stls; Lukas Swagger 2 points (1/1 FGs)