Red Oak loses OT thriller to Atlantic
RED OAK—After going back-and-forth for most of the game, the Red Oak Tigers lost in overtime last Friday night to the Atlantic Trojans, 66-62.
The Tigers had as much as an eight-point lead with 3:30 minutes still to play in the game, thanks to a strong effort by Colby Wise and his seven fourth quarter points, 16 total for the night.
“It was a great basketball game,” Tigers Head Coach Brad Schlieman said. “We kept saying in the huddle during the last 30-45 seconds, one more stop, one more stop.”
However, the Trojans weren’t about to go away and went on an 8-2 run, culminating in a contested baseline three-pointer with 4.5 seconds remaining in the game, to tie it up at 55.
“We played pretty good defense,” Schlieman said. “There’s not a whole heck of a lot you can do about that.”
Red Oak had one last chance with 2.6 seconds remaining, but a Matt Goracke shot came up short and the game went to overtime.
Dakota White opened up the overtime period with a three pointer, but Atlantic came back to take a 59-58 lead.
Tanner Johnson hit a free throw to tie it at 59, but the Trojans went down court and took a 61-59 lead with 1:03 left in the game.
White hit a long-range three and gave the Tigers the 62-61 lead.
Free throws were key in the final minute and Atlantic went to the line made their free throws, while Red Oak was short on theirs.
“We didn’t play our best up there the last time (75-46) so we came out with a little bit of a chip on our shoulder, something to prove,” Schlieman said.
The Tigers had the lead at the end of the first three quarters.
The Tigers held a 10-3 lead at one point in the first, thanks to the effort of White and Gustavo Rodrigues.
Red Oak led 17-16 at the end of the quarter. Rodrigues and White combined for 14 points in the quarter.
Red Oak gave up the lead only twice in the second quarter and led 29-26 at halftime. White scored 11 of his 24 points in the first half.
Both teams stayed close in the third quarter, with Red Oak taking a lead no larger than four points.
Atlantic was only able to take a one-point lead twice during the quarter.
White and Rodrigues scored a combined 10 points during the quarter and gave Red Oak the 46-42 lead by the end of it.
Rodrigues finished the night with 15 points. Schlieman thought it was Rodrigues’ best game of the season.
“That’s the Gustavo we see every day and I’m confident we’re going to see that the rest of the season,” he said.
Tuesday night, the Tigers were home to play Clarinda, who they went into overtime with in their last meeting.
They’re on the road Friday night to play Glenwood and will be home again Saturday night to play Tri-Center.