Red Devils excel in double OT

The Red Devils continued their up and down season with a thrilling, 82-77 double overtime win over Two Eagle River on Friday, before falling, 42-55, against second ranked Charlo on Saturday. The 3-4, 4-8 Red Devils have yet to post consecutive wins this season.

“We’re playing .500 basketball right now, which is definitely better than we were playing before Christmas, but it counts in February and that’s what we’re looking forward to,” Noxon head coach Mike Tessier said.

Impressive wins and head scratching losses have comprised the majority of Noxon’s season as the Red Devils have battled a number of injuries to key starters while trying to fend off opponents at the same time.

On Friday, it was one dramatic moment after another as Noxon emerged with the District 14-C win. The Red Devils battled back from a 29-37, halftime deficit to knot things up with just seconds remaining. Two Eagle River benefited from two missed free throws in the final five seconds to allow an extra session.

Once in overtime, Two Eagle scored seven straight points, leaving the Red Devils down five with only thirty seconds to play. Jordan Eichert’s game-tying 3-pointer capped off the Noxon comeback with three seconds remaining, extending the game again.

In the second overtime, Two Eagle River missed five free throws to come up short in the marathon game.

“Anytime you get involved in a close game it’s exciting, overtime games even more and double overtime games that much more,” Tessier said. “We really responded after digging ourselves a hole and were able to come back.”

Banks Stocking led Noxon with 17 points. Eichert added 16, Tyrell Wilkinson 11, Austin Tucker 10, Travis Tammaro nine, Jesse Linderman eight, Brandon Piazzola six and Neal Jopling and Oliver Dupenhoff four apiece as Noxon improved to 3-3 conf., 4-7 ovr.

Marcus Brown scored a game-high 19 points to lead Two Eagle River who fell to 3-3, 4-8. Clayton Malatare added 16 points in the loss.

On Saturday, an undefeated Charlo team benefitted from a 24 free throw advantage, shooting 33 attempts compared to Noxon’s nine in the conference battle

“We didn’t get many opportunites there and obviously close games are won and lost at the free throw line,” Tessier said. “That was a huge difference, we’re normally a team that goes to the line about 25 or 30 times a game and we only got nine.”

It was all tied up at halftime, 22-all, when the Vikings defensive pressure began to rattle the Noxon offense. In the second half, Charlo outscored Noxon 16-8 in the third quarter, and again 17-12 in the fourth.

Noxon still had one more run left in them, however, as threes from Wilkinson and Eichert helped the Red Devils cut the gap to three, but Charlo connected on 13 of 22 free throws in the fourth quarter to hold off the Red Devils.

Eichert led Noxon with ten points in the loss. Jopling added nine points, Stocking eight, Wilkinson seven, Tammaro four and Tucker and Oliver Grupenhoff two each as the Red Devils fell to 3-4, 4-8.

The Vikings were paced by Chance Rosenbaum with 16 points. Dillon Delaney was also in double digits, scoring 13 as the Vikings improved to 6-0, 11-0.

This week Noxon has a break from conference play, hosting a pair of games. First, facing Valley Christian on Thursday before playing Troy on Friday.