So much for my anticipated 7:45 start. Once the game got started at 8:20, it took 3 jump balls before it was finally correct enough for SO to control the tap. Coach Steiner started yet another line-up tonight as Langdon Barnes was unable to play. SK’s Maegley scored the first two buckets which forced a TO by SO before the first minute was up in the quarter. Slavey knocked down a three right after the time out. SO came back and drew within a point after they got back to back treys. It was apparent early on that SO had nobody who could stop Maegley once they got the ball inside. Zach Layne returned to the line-up tonight after being out with a high ankle sprain. He appeared to be moving pretty good despite the large brace he was sporting but clearly wasn’t himself and was limited in the number of minutes he played. SK started playing a little tight and surrendered the lead at 9-10 as SO kept the Pioneers from getting any second chance points. SK committed two turnovers in a row which the Dragons turned into a 15-9 lead. SK had the last possession of the quarter and converted a basket on a nice pass to Maegley that allowed SK to close to 15-11 at the end of the first.
The second quarter saw SK fall behind by 9 at the 5 minute mark which prompted Coach Steiner to call a time-out. A couple of nice hustle plays by Tyler Hopperton kept a couple of balls alive that SK was able to convert and draw within 6 at 24-18. Steiner turned back to Sorrell who connected on a three with 3:30 left in the half. SK got a stop but failed to convert which prompted a declaration by Mr. Pioneer (Randall Wagner) for the Pioneers to get on the boards. Randall was right as many of the SK chances were one and done. Sorrell got fouled after the defensive stop and was able to convert the two foul shots with 2:24 left in the half as the score stood at 26-23. SK defensive pressure forced the Dragon turnover but SK was unable to connect. David Dressman was able show his jumping ability and got a nice block. Once again, SK was unable to connect. SO got a big play as Kramer connected on a three and was fouled. He converted the 4 point play to put SK down 30-23. Dressman converted a bucket off a nice pass from Sorrell. SO held for the last second shot but threw the ball to Ms. Sheldon in the third row. Nate Ponzer got his first points of the half by hitting a fade away jumper on the left side of the lane. Maegley ended up scoring 10 points in the first half. SK trims the 9 point lead down to 3 as they trailed by a 30-27 score.
SK got the first possession and scored once again by getting the ball into Maegley for their first two possessions which allowed them to regain the lead for the first time since they were up 9-8. Sorrell passed up a couple of three balls but took the ball to the rim and converted an old fashioned to tie the game at 34. SK took the ball trailing by three and worked the ball for about 90 seconds but turned it over and allowed SO to convert. SO was also able to make the last bucket of the quarter at the buzzer to go up 43-36.
The Pioneers came out in the fourth and looked like they were feeling the pressure. They scored only one point at the 5:48 mark while SO scored 5 and went up double digits, 48-37. Brandon Maegley fouled out at the 5:13 mark of the fourth. Slavey hit a three right at the 5 minute mark and a SO turnover prompted a full TO by the Dragons. Slavey hit another 3 to pull the boys within 7 – 50-43. A rare 3 ball by Dressman at the 3 minute mark got SK to within 4. SK jacked up a couple of more threes but couldn’t connect and SO went down and hit 5 foul shots to go up 55-46. SK got some chances but just couldn’t convert when they needed points down the stretch. Zach Layne made a spectacular play at 1:10 taking the ball to the basket to close the lead to 57-51. The bad thing was his ankle came up hurting. The SK boys were not quitting. They played with a ton of heart down the stretch of the game. Steiner pulled his guys out at 13 seconds for the final time of the season. The SK bench was filled with hugs and tears as the Pioneers fall in the regional tournament and see their season come to an end by a final score of 60-51.
The Pioneer season came to end as the final score ends . It was a lot of fun watching this group of players led by its 9 seniors.
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