Lustre Repeats As Divisional Champions
The Lustre Lions defeated the Plentywood Wildcats, 5647, for their second straight divisional basketball championship on Friday, but this year’s title was a lot more satisfying for 6-5 junior Byron Ewing.
When the Lions won last year’s first divisional championship, Ewing was sidelined with an arm injury suffered during the first round of the tournament. This time was much different as Ewing scored 16 points and dominated play inside during Lustre’s title victory.
“It felt really good,” Ewing said during the championship celebration in Glasgow.
Coach Randy Reddig said Ewing mentioned before the game that he wasn’t on the court at last year’s divisional title game.
Ewing delivered with one of his best games of the season. He shared top scoring honors with Clay Reddig with 16 points.
“I’m ecstatic for Byron and Clay,” Coach Reddig said after the game.
Ewing added about his performance, “It was definitely up there, no doubt.”
Clay Reddig hit a 14-footer late in the first half to put the Lions up by a slim 27-24 halftime margin.
Lustre made a few defensive changes in the second half and enjoyed a strong start in the third quarter.
“Our effort wasn’t quite where it needed to be in the first half,” Coach Reddig said.
Two baskets by Ewing, including one off an assist from Cayden Klatt, and a free throw by Terran Joseph put the Lions up by a 32-24 margin.
The Lions increased the gap to 40-30 on an one-handed dunk by Johnslee Pierre and a drive by Clay Reddig with three minutes remaining in the quarter.
The Wildcats, however, were sparked by a three-point shot and three-point play by Carson Solberg to pull to 40-36. After Ewing scored off a pass from Cam Reddig, Plentywood’s Chance Klein hit a three-pointer for a 42-39 battle at the end of the third quarter.
Lustre took a big stride to winning the title with the first eight points of the fourth quarter on three-pointers by Clay Reddig and Klatt along with a put-back by Ewing.
The Wildcats were able to close the margin to 53-47 on a three-pointer by Solberg with 1:41 remaining.
A drive by Cam Reddig put Lustre back up by eight points with 1:22 left. Lustre’s defense stood firm down the stretch, and a free throw by Pierre put the final at 56-47.
Rounding out Lustre’s scoring were Klatt with 11, Pierre with five, Cam Reddig with five and Joseph with three points.
Leading Plentywood were Noah Murray with 19, Solberg with 13 and Klein with 12 points.
