Bulldogs Drop First-Round Game In Overtime

In a thrilling first-round battle, Lustre Christian emerged with a 71-59 overtime victory over Bainville at the Eastern C boys’ basketball divisional tournament in Sidney on Wednesday, March 2.

A short jumper by Elijah Lenihan put the Lions ahead by a 56-48 margin with under two minutes left in regulation.

Bainville kept fighting back as a pair of three-pointers by Braeden Romo pulled the Bulldogs to 57-54 with 36 seconds left. After the Lions missed from the foul stripe, Bainville raced downcourt. Romo was off on two three-point tries, but junior Ayden Knudsen then connected from way out for a 57-57 deadlock with less than two seconds remaining.

The Bulldogs got off to a good start in overtime when Jesse Strickland drove in for a basket to start the extra period.

The Lions, however, dominated the rest of overtime. A three-pointer by Kolden Hoversland put Lustre ahead to stay, 60-59, with 3:10 left.

A free throw by Kolden Hoversland, a basket off a rebound by Jasiah Hambira and a free throw by Kaleb Hoversland increased the gap to 64-59.

Hambira accounted for the game’s last seven points for the 71-59 final.

Lenihan, who enjoyed an excellent shooting game for the Lions, finished with 25 points. Hambira scored 19 points. Braden Ewing and Kolden Hoversland added 10 points each. Also scoring were Kaleb Hoversland with four and Cayden Klatt with three points.

Bainville’s top scorers were Romo with 15, Knudsen with 14, Charles Butikofer with 13 and Strickland with 10 points.

Also scoring were Samuel Butikofer with five and Alex Strickland with two points.

S. Butikofer grabbed eight rebounds.

The scoring of Romo led the Bulldogs to a 20-10 lead in the first quarter, but Lustre’s Lenihan hit a three-pointer to end the second period at 20-13.

Consecutive three-pointers by Lenihan and Klatt put the Lions in the lead at 25-24 with 2:13 remaining in the half. Lustre held a 30-27 halftime advantage.

Hambira got a hot hand in the third quarter as Lustre increased its lead to 38-33. After a basket off a rebound by C. Butikofer, the Lions struck for six straight points on hoops by Lenihan, Ewing and Kolden Hoversland for a 44-35 margin. The lead was 46-38 after three quarters of play.

A drive by Ewing put the Lions ahead 52-40 early in the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs responded with baskets by S. Butikofer and C. Butikofer to pull to 52-44 with 5:17 left.

Two free throws by Strickland and a steal and layup by Knudsen closed the gap to 52-48 with 4;14 remaining.