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Cowboys pull out heart-stopping win in OT |
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Wednesday, 05 December 2007 |
 BIG HOOP – Eric Norby slices through Wildcat defenders and hits a bucket that tied the contest, 49-49, with seven seconds to play in regulation on Saturday. The Cowboys then came on to win the game in OT, 60-58. I-O Photo by Buck Traxler
Readers will recall it was the Wildcats who downed Conrad in the final football game of the season to knock the Cowboys out of the playoff picture.
In a back and forth first period, Conrad stayed close to the Wildcats, but still trailed by a bucket, 14-16.
There were five lead changes alone in the first period. Senior Justin Prewett knocked down six of his 15 points in the game to pace the Cowboys. A steady Garrett Grubb led the team in scoring with 16 markers. He tossed home four points in the first period.
Eric Norby added a pair of free throws and Bryce Nelson chipped in a bucket to round out the first quarter of scoring.
The ‘Cats outscored the Cowboys 14-13 in the second frame to take a 30-27 lead into the locker room.
After the break, Riley Styren scored all five of his game points in the third period and Grubb canned a three pointer to outscore Harlem 11-10, but they still trailed going down the stretch, 38-40.
Harlem could not put the contest away and let the Cowboys hang around. They rallied for another 11 points and stiffened the defense, holding the ‘Cats to nine points.
Prewett tied the contest for a short time at 40-40 with a nifty jump shot. Judisch drilled long ball home with :29 seconds to get the Cowboys within a hoop at 47-49 and with seven seconds to play. Norby then got the finger roll on a lay-in to tie the game at 49-49 and send it into OT.
In the overtime, Harlem jumped out to a 49-55 lead, but Grubb dished off to Prewett in the lane for a bucket and Judisch nailed another three bomb getting the team within one shot at 54-55.
Grubb hit a lay up to put the Cowboys ahead 56-55. He also hit a pair of crucial free throws. Then Prewett calmly sank a pair of free shots from the stripe that iced the game, 60-58.
“What a great way to start the season,” said a happy Tyson Anderson, second year coach of the Cowboys.
He also noted, “We rebounded well (24) even though we were outsized and then made the clutch free throws in the OT to seal the win.”
Grubb led the scoring with 16 points, pulled down four boards, had five assists and three steals. Prewett had 15 markers and seven boards.
Judisch banged home nine points off the glass, had six assists and three rebounds. Norby also poured in nine points to go with seven boards and three assists. Styren tallied five points and had two assists. Nelson put up four points and Moerkerke added a hoop, had two steals and six boards.
The Cowboys had two blocked shots, 18 turnovers, eight steals, 14 assists, and 24 rebounds.
Conrad scored on 21 shots from the floor and hit 14-20 from the free throw line.
Harlem scored on four more shots, 25 than Conrad, but was just 6-12 at the line.
This weekend, the team goes to Manhattan for a tournament. Their next home game is Dec. 15 when Shelby comes in for a visit.
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