3-point heroics fall short in Heat loss

Two points, one stolen ball and 20 seconds separated a miracle comeback from a heartbreaking loss for Hot Springs Friday. The Savage Heat electrified a boisterous home crowd with a 19-point fourth quarter run, but fell in the final seconds to the Superior Bobcats 44-42 for their first league loss of the season.

Trailing by 12 points versus the Bobcats in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, the Hot Springs boys basketball squad came alive and appeared on the brink of a dramatic come-from-behind win. Two consecutive downtown scores from the steady hands of six-foot sophomore Reiley Winebrenner pulled the Savage Heat to within one point of the Bobcats with under a minute to play, but leading Superior scorer David Repke - who had a woeful night from the line and missed two clutch free throws with 22.3 seconds remaining - redeemed himself with a steal that allowed the Bobcats to close out a 44-42 win.

Winebrenner added seven more points to his pair of clutch fourth quarter three-pointers to join senior Nick Pavelich as the Heat's leading scorer. Each notched 13 points for the game. Also contributing from the offensive end were Drew Flagen with eight points and Blake Herman, who had a six-point outing.

Hot Springs appeared out of sink throughout the first three quarters of play. The team was only trailing by a bucket at the end of the first quarter, but Superior outpaced the Heat 10-4 in the second quarter and entered halftime with a decisive 22-14 lead. The Heat couldn't curtail the speed of Repke, the Bobcat's point guard, until the fourth quarter. The senior, despite an 0-7 free-throw performance and a scoreless fourth quarter, led his team with 12 points. Travis Stroot, Tyler Stenberg and Drew Walen each added six points for the Cats.

The Savage Heat found their shooting rhythm in the fourth quarter, but were forced to repeatedly foul Superior as the final minutes ticked away. With under a minute to play, the Bobcats seemed to come unglued from the foul line. Rollin Rennick (who had four points for the game) and Walen could muster only one of two free point attempts each and Winebrenner's three-point heroics added a quick six points to the Heat's total in a matter of seconds. Repke shanked two free throws to hand the ball back to the Heat - trailing by one point with 20 seconds left - but Repke, darting through the Hot Springs offense, came away with the ball. Rennick, fouled during his sprint with Repke down the court, added one more free throw and Winebrenner's desperation shot from half court missed its mark.

Hot Springs is now 2-1 in conference play with an overall record of 4-3. The Bobcats improved to 3-1 and 4-4 overall.

Next up for the Heat is an away showdown with Two Eagle this Friday.