Neers Claim Tough Fought Win at the Joe on Homecoming Night

The Joe was home tonight to the winter homecoming and a little bit of everything tonight.  There was a full complement of cheerleaders and the band, an awesome performance by SK students during half-time of the JV game, senior night for the dance team, homecoming courts and a hip hop performance by the dance team.  Pretty much everything but the Whitney Houston National Anthem recording as the band took the honors tonight.  In the end, a thrilling overtime game between the Owen County Rebels and the Neers.  The Rebels headed into the Joe tonight with a 17-4 record and presented a challenge for SK as their physical presence was an advantage on the inside. 

SK jumped out to a nice lead early in the game but the Rebels hung tough.  SK took the ball to the basket but found the sledding tough.  SK would lead 16-9 after the first and 23-16 at the break.  Not a half that was brilliant on the offensive end but it was obvious the game was going to be a slobber knocker. 

Owen came out and cut the lead to 4 where the margin would hold throughout the second half.  The Rebels would take their first lead of the game with just over 4 minutes to go in the game but SK would play very poised and take back over in the contest.  The Neers would extend the lead to 6 at 52-46 with 42 seconds left in the game.  That's where it would get interesting.  SK was whistled for an intentional foul.  The Rebels would convert the throws and get a bucket on the possession getting them within 2.  Offense would get tough for SK while Owen was able to tie.  SK got a last possession and a good look at the basket but it wouldn’t fall and the game went to OT.

Overtime was a slugfest.  As both teams approached the end of the game, there were barely any fouls called.  The game remained close in OT but SK was able to outscore Owen 5-3 and wins 58-56.  The game was very, very physical but I compliment the team for keeping poised, which to me was the difference in the game as the offense didn’t click like it had in recent games.  Andrew Sampson scored 27 for the Neers and was the only double figure scorer for SK. 

Congrats to Owen County’s Zach Ripy who scored his 1,000^th point tonight.  The young fella got a nice ovation from the SK faithful and was all smiles after the contest with the game ball.

Hard hat award tonight could go to the whole team but I’ll give the tip to Riley Barnes.  Barnes couldn’t hit the Licking River from the Visalia Bridge on offense but the senior guard was phenomenal on defense, posting at least 5 steals in the second half including a game preserving steal in the last seconds of overtime.  Barnes also came up with several rebounds at the right time.  Nice job getting it done on the tough end. 

 

Lots of thuds on the floor tonight.

 

Morrison with a spot on my 8th Region Expression team.

 

My main man Mitchell Harper escorting Chloe Turner in the Homecoming Court.

 

Needed some extra padding tonight.  Some pics not the best but you get the point.

 

Sampson with 2 of 27.