BY BUDDY TABLER
Special to the Tribune
HILLSBORO—In what has become an every-game-affair, the Larned boys won another close one Friday with an improbable 62-59 victory over Hillsboro.
Improbable because with only 3.2 seconds left and the ball at mid-court, Larned’s Brock Skelton drilled a 30-foot, 3-point basket to force overtime.
Hillsboro’s Grayson Ratzlaff converted two free throws for a 54-51 lead.
Larned called a timeout with 3.2 seconds remaining to design a play to get a 3-point shot. Skelton made it look well-designed as he made the 30-foot shot, forcing overtime. Hillsboro could feel the disappointment at letting one get away.
It was the third overtime game for Larned in the last 10 days and fifth straight game that came down to the final seconds.
“We’ve become so used to these type of games that we weren’t even nervous,” said Larned coach Jerrod Smith.
“We played really well except for about five minutes in the fourth quarter when we got impatient.
These kids are competitive and athletic. They found a way to win it.”
The Indians (11-5, 5-1 CKL) outscored the Trojans 8-5 to secure second place.
Skelton scored 21 points while Chance Sanger had 11 and Trent Fletcher nine.
Larned plays Hesston at home Tuesday.
“It was an important win for us because it kept us in the hunt for the title in the league race and kept us in position for the top seed in our sub-state.
Larned, Scott City and Hugoton have lost five games.
Larned led 42-37 after three quarters. But Hillsboro, scored nine points for a 46-42 edge.
Hillsboro made 22 of 46 shots and 10 of 22 free throws. Wes Shaw scored 21 points to lead the Trojans. Matthew Potucek scored 11 and Ratzlaff nine.
Larned made 21 of 51 field goals and 11 of 17 free throws, including key foul shots in regulation and overtime.
Larned 14 13 15 12 8 – 62
Hillsboro 17 9 11 17 5 – 59
LARNED (11-5, 5-1)—Skelton 7-12 3-4 21, Sanger 4-18 0-0 11, Fletcher 2-10 4-6 9, Thomas 2-3 0-0 4, Pe-rez 1-4 3-4 5, Rupp 3-11 1-2 8, Smith 2-5 0-1 4, Totals 21-63 11-17 62
HILLSBORO (11-6, 4-2)—Shaw 11-20 1-6 23, Matt Potucek 4-11 4-8 12, Caleb Potucek 3-11 2-4 8, Hanschu 0-3 0-0 0, Rempel 2-8 0-0 6, Ratzlaff 2-4 3-4 8, Gardner 1-2 0-0 2,Totals 23-59 10-22 59
3-pointers—L 9-22 (Skelton 4-6, Sanger 3-8, Rupp 1-3, Fletcher 1-4, Thomas 0-1); H 3-20 (Rempel 2-7, Ratzlaff 1-2, M. Potucek 0-1, Hanschu 0-3, C. Potucek 0-7); Rebounds—L 40 (Perez 6, Skelton 6, Sanger 6); H 48 (Shaw 14); Steals—L 12 (Skelton 4), H 11 (M. Potucek 4). TO—L 16, H 19
CKL BOYS
Nickerson 6-0 11-6
Larned 5-1 11-5
Hillsboro 4-2 11-6
Haven 4-2 11-6
Halstead 3-3 10-7
Hesston 2-4 12-5
Hoisington 2-4 7-9
Smoky Valley 2-3 7-9
Pratt 1-4 5-11
Lyons 0-6 5-11
TUESDAY—Hillsboro 53, Halstead 41; Larned 57, Haven 52; Smoky Valley 58, Lyons 30; Nickerson 55, Pratt 28; Hoisington 70, Plainville 53
FRIDAY—Nickerson 56, Haven 31; Larned 62, Hillsboro 59, OT; Halstead 57, Hoisington 49, OT; Pratt 62, Smoky Valley 55; Hesston 47, Lyons 35
TUESDAY—Smoky Valley at Nickerson; Hesston at Larned; Hillsboro at Hoisington; Halstead at Pratt; Haven at Lyons
NICKERSON (6-0, 11-6)—W Sedgwick 61-51; L Hesston 40-49; W Wichita Independent 81-70; L Emporia 39-66; L Haven 54-62; W Pratt 51-44; L Larned 39-50; L Andale 42-60; W *Hoisington 51-46; W *Lyons 42-29; St. John Tournament (L Central Plains 38-64; Larned 53-47; W Macksville 62-46); W * Larned 45-44; W *Halstead 55-39; W *Pratt 55-28; W *Haven 56-31; 2-12—*Smoky Valley; 2-15—*Hesston; 2-19—*at Hillsboro
LARNED (5-1, 11-5)—L Pratt 37-42; W Kiowa Co. 62-48; W Macksville 56-36; L St. John 45-52; W Cimarron 68-67; W Nickerson 50-39; W Lakin 71-56; W *Lyons 61-33; St. John Tournament (L St. John 45-46; L Nickerson 47-53; W KC Christian 61-47); W *Pratt 47-46 OT; L *Nickerson 44-45; W *Smoky Valley 70-65, 2 OT; W *Haven 58-52; 2-8—*Hillsboro 62-59, OT; 2-12—Hesston; 2-15—*Hoisington; 2-19—*Halstead; 2-22—at SW Heights
HILLSBORO (4-2, 11-6)—L Belle Plaine 56-58; L Inman 38-49; W Moundridge 50-49; W Lyons 65-51; L Marion 52-54; W SE Saline 60-36; W Halstead 67-49; W *Pratt 43-33; L *Haven 59-64; Hillsboro Tournament (W Remington 66-27; L Riley Co. 44-50; W Holcomb 46-34); W Sterling 72-52; W *Smoky Valley 53-48; W *Hesston 50-39; W *Halstead 53-41; L *Larned 59-62; 2-12—*at Hoisington; 2-15—*at Lyons; 2-19—*Nickerson
HAVEN (4-2, 11-6)—L Hutchinson Trinity 65-67; W Valley Center 56-53; W Conway Springs 49-33; L Kingman 45-51; W Nickerson 62-54; L Central Plains 35-51; W Sedgwick 48-44; W Pratt 52-42; W *Halstead 44-42; W *Hillsboro 64-59; Halstead Tournament (W Rose Hill 57-45; L Andale 33-48; W Halstead 44-42); W *Hesston 61-40; W *Hoisington 64-56; L *Larned 52-58; L *Nickerson 31-56; 2-12—*at Lyons; 2-15—*at Pratt; 2-19—*Smoky Valley
HALSTEAD (3-3, 10-7)—W Remington 66-52; W Ell-Saline 62-24; W Remington 51-38; W Minneapolis 47-43; W Sedgwick 63-46; L Smoky Valley 43-46 OT; W Mulvane 48-34; L Hillsboro; L *Haven 42-44; *Hesston 37-34; Halstead Tournament (W Minneapolis 49-42; L Cheney 49-66; L Haven 42-44); W * Lyons 56-46; L *Nickerson 39-55; L *Hillsboro 41-53; W *Hoisington 57-49, OT; 2-12—*at Pratt; 2-15—*Smoky Valley; 2-19—*at Larned
HESSTON (2-4, 12-5)—W Sacred Heart 59-55; W Nickerson 49-40; L Emporia 39-63; W Independent 72-59; W Smoky Valley 52-46, OT; W St. John 64-53; W Clearwater 59-33; L *Hoisington 52-58; W *Smoky Valley 55-41; L *Halstead 34-37; Hillsboro Tournament (W Republic Co. 54-34; W Holcomb 54-37; W Riley Co. 57-47); W Buhler 41-36; L *Haven 40-61; L *Hillsboro 39-50; W *Lyons 47-35; 2-12—*at Larned; 2-15—*at Nickerson; 2-19—*Pratt
HOISINGTON (2-4, 7-9)—L Central Plains 30-60; W Spearville 62-30; L St. John 46-52; L Macksville 69-71; W Smoky Valley 56-37; W *Hesston 58-52; L *Nickerson 46-51; L *Smoky Valley 43-49; Hoisington Tournament (W Ellinwood 49-22; W Pratt 45-35; L Victoria 53-55, OT); W *Pratt 57-29; L St. John 35-45; L Haven 56-64; W Plainville 70-53; L *Halstead 49-57, OT; 2-12—*Hillsboro; 2-15—*at Larned; 2-16—Phillipsburg; 2-19—*Lyons
SMOKY VALLEY (2-4, 7-10)—L Abilene 56-69; W SE Saline 61-53; W Concordia 53-42; L Hesston 46-52, OT; W Halstead 46-43, OT; L Hoisington 37-56; L *Hesston 41-55; W *Hoisington 49-43; Sterling Tournament (W Lyons 31-29; L Beloit 46-51; L Hugoton 44-52); W Clay Center 51-29; L Hutchinson Trinity 46-50; L * Hillsboro 48-53; L *Larned 65-70, 2 OT; W *Lyons 58-30; L *Pratt 55-62; 2-12—*at Nickerson; 2-15—*at Halstead; 2-19—*at Haven
PRATT (2-4, 6-11)—W Larned 42-37; L Chaparral 43-44; L Welliington 34-57; W El Dorado 54-45; W Hays-TMP 39-52; L Nickerson 44-51, 2 OT; L Hays 41-67; L Haven 42-54; L *Hillsboro 33-43; Hoisington Tournament (W Ellsworth 52-32; L Hoisington 35-45; W Russell 55-48); L *Hoisington 29-57; L *Larned 46-57, OT; W * Lyons 49-46; L *Nickerson 28-55; W *Smoky Valley 62-55; 2-12—*Halstead; 2-15—*at Haven; 2-19—*at Hesston
LYONS (0-6, 5-11)—W Ellsworth 74-42; L Moundridge 36-49; L Inman 30-53; L Hillsboro 51-65; W Canton-Galva 41-35; L Skyline 50-55; W Sedgwick 71-65; L *Larned 33-61; L *Nickerson 29-42; Sterling Tournament (L Smoky Valley 29-31; W SE Saline 54-45, W Sunrise 61-36); 1-25—Ellinwood; L *Halstead 46-56; L *Pratt 46-49; L *Smoky Valley 30-58; L *Hesston 35-47; 2-12—*Haven; 2-15—*Hillsboro; 2-19—*at Hoisington
