Lawrence-Nelson Raider defense, Connor Janda, (15), Clay Williams (33), Bayln Bargen, Sawyer Cox (35) and Nolan Ostdiek (22) control the Red Cloud offense in Thursday's game.
Lawrence-Nelson Raider Baylon Bargen keeps pace with a Red Cloud player during Thursday's game.
Some people consider the number '13' as unlucky. But then I've heard that some people consider it a lucky number.
I've come to the conclusion that if you have the L-N Raiders as your favorite basketball team in the state, it is 'unlucky.'
If you have the Sumner- Eddyville-Miller (SEM) basketball team as your favorite basketball team in the state, it is 'lucky.'
Why?
Just look at the score by quarters from the District D2-3 basketball game last Saturday and draw your own conclusion.
L-N 13 13 13 1 - 40
SEM 13 6 16 11 - 46
The typical High School basketball game has 32 minutes of play on record. This District championship game was no different. The number 3 team in class D-2 (SEM) played the number 13th rated team (L-N).
In those 32 minutes, the Raiders were either ahead, or tied with SEM for approximately 28 or 29 minutes. It wasn't until the final two and one-half minutes of play that SEM managed to go ahead and stay ahead for the win.
The Raiders have had a number of 'interesting' games this season and this one has to rank right up there with the best . . . just not having a good conclusion.
The first period saw the score either tied or having changed hands five times. It started with Nolan Ostdiek starting the scoring very early in the game. A highlight of the period was Sawyer Cox forcing a turnover and then having an 'assist' by feeding Clay Williams who had a lay-up. The period ended with Bayln Bargen draining a 3-pt. shot with just seconds left on the clock.
L-N led the entire second and third periods with Connor Janda scoring first, followed by Carson Vaughn and ending with Carter Griffis's basket with a minute left in the third period.
SEM tied the game at 39-39 within a minute and half of the start of the fourth period, but did not gain the lead until another four minutes went by. SEM hit one field goal and 5 of 8 free throws in the final minutes of the game while the Raiders could not buy a basket from the field.
The loss was a disappointment for the boys who had come so far this season in terms of improved play and ability.
The 17-7 SEM team will most likely be seeded third or fourth at the state tournament. L-N ends their season with a record of 14-11 and an uncertain feeling about that number "13." In football it is often said the game is "of inches." I'm not sure what the adage would be in basketball, but in this game it was of the number "1." SEM had 1 more 2-pt. Field goal; one more 3-pt. field goal and one more free throw.
We have been unable to obtain statistics for the game, but unofficial stats we have are as follows:
Scoring: Nolan Ostdiek 8, Bayln Bargen 13, Connor Janda 5, Clay Williams 2, Carson Vaughn 3, Sawyer Cox 5, Jack Williams 2, Carter Griffis 2.
L-N team: field goals: 14-46; free throws: 8-12.
SEM team: field goals: 16-36; free throws: 9-14.
Five seniors ended their high school basketball days for the Raiders. They are: Bayln Bargen, Connor Janda, Nolan Ostdiek, Wyatt Baker and Clay Williams.
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