Bobcats win to the sounds of the buzzer

Nick Ianniello

Mineral Independent

The Superior Bobcats varsity basketball team proved that they know how to make every second of a game count when they beat the Alberton Panthers with a buzzer shot during a game in Superior last Tuesday evening.

The game, which proved to be an overall low-scoring matchup, started off with the Bobcats in a tenuous 10 – 7 lead of the Panthers in the first quarter.

With both teams playing tough defensively, the game continued on neck and neck, with the Panthers outscoring the Bobcats 6 – 4 in the second quarter, closing in on the Bobcats 14 – 13 lead.

By the fourth quarter the Panthers had taken the lead, outscoring the bobcats 9 – 6 for a 22 – 20 lead.

The last quarter of the game proved to be the deciding factor and with 20 seconds left to go in the game, the Panthers had a 28 – 26 lead over the Bobcats.

Not to go down without a fight, senior Bobcat Drew Walen posted a two-point shot, tying the game and sending both teams spiraling towards an overtime situation.

With only five seconds left on the clock, overtime seemed like an inevitability until senior Bobcat Tyler Stenberg made a quick steal setting in motion the play that would win the game for the Bobcats.

As the buzzer sounded Bobcat Wesley Yarnall hit a three-pointer from deep in the corner to give the Bobcats a 31 – 28 victory over the Panthers.

“We only hit one or two shots outside of the key and that was the perfect timing for it,” said Bobcats Head Coach Dan Lucier.

Panthers Head Coach Chris Clevenger also said that the Panthers were having difficulty hitting long shots against the Bobcats, and both teams spent much of the game relying on shots from within the key.

“Especially playing at Superior we knew this was going to be tough. We’re pretty equal as far as talented kids go,” Clevenger said.

Neither team racked up a large number of points in the game, a fact which is not lost on either coach.

“When you only score 28 points you’re not going to win very many ballgames,” Clevenger said.

Lucier shared similar sentiments about the Bobcats, saying “We’re playing awfully good defense, but we need to pick up on our offense a little bit.”

Stenberg led the Bobcats in scoring with eight points. Bajin Smith brought in six points while Yarnall brought in five and Walen brought in four. Brian Labbe and Travis Stroot each scored two points for the Bobcats.

“They’re our biggest basketball rival, so that was a good way for us to finish up the season with them,” Lucier said about the Panthers.

Jerry Brovold led the Panthers in scoring with 11 points while Cody Hoose and Zach Brown each brought in seven points. Kyle Ishler also scored two points and James wimple scored one point for the Panthers.

“We’re pretty even with them,” said Clevenger. “They’re a pretty good team and I think we’re a pretty solid team as well. We knew it was going to be close.”