DODGE CITY- The 32 minutes of regulation weren’t enough to decide whether the Otis-Bison boys would move on to the second round of the Class 1A Division 2 State Basketball Tournament.
The No. 6 seeded Cougars faced the No. 3 seeded Hartford Jaguars in a tough first round matchup Thursday.
Otis-Bison's Maitland Wiltse gave the Cougars a 39-36 lead and Kade Urban's free throw provided a 40-38 lead. Hartford's Danen Kistler sliced the lead to 39-38 and Dalen Kistner's basket send the game to overtime at 40-40.
Wiltse, who sat out much of the second half due to foul trouble, kicked off the extra period with a quick basket. He would finish with a double-double, scoring 11 points and bringing in 10 rebounds.
Hartford’s Danen Kistner was quick to answer, draining a 3-pointer and then converting two free throws on the following possession. Kistner led the Jaguars with 16 points. He finished one rebound short of a double-double, pulling in nine rebounds.
A 3-point bucket from Anton Foust and one of two free throws from Kade Urban put the Cougars back in the lead 46-45 with just over a minute remaining. Urban finished with a game high 20 points. He also pulled in 10 rebounds to record a double-double. Foust added eight points.
Trailing by one, Danen Kistner slashed to the hoop, drawing a foul as he converted a contested layup. After missing the free throw, the Jaguars led 47-46 with just under one minute left to play.
The Cougars blundered a crucial ensuing possession, committing their 22st turnover.
Determined to put the game out of the reach, Kistner found himself slashing to the hoop looking for another layup. This time he was too aggressive and picked up his fifth and final foul.
Gifted with another opportunity, the Cougars' Foust unable to find a much-needed bucket. They were forced to foul Dalen Kistner who put the game away at the free throw line. Urban missed the Oilers' final two attempts.
The Cougars finished the season with a 15-8 record.
“It was a really good season and I’m proud of our guys,” said Otis-Bison head coach, Curtis Little. “We went further than anyone expected. … I love how our guys competed and responded to adversity.”
Hartford will face no. 2 seed Hutchinson- Central Christian in the semifinals on Friday.
Hartford 13 8 9 10 (9) — 49
Otis-Bison 18 2 13 7 (6) — 46
HARTFORD--Neill 0-2 0-0 0, Kemmerer 3-8 0-1 6, Ikerd 1-3 0-0 2, Dalen Kistner 3-7 3-3 9, Fowler 3-10 10-12 16, Danen Kistner 6-21 3-5 16. Totals 16-51 16-21 49.
OTIS-BISON—Bahr 1-5 0-0 3, Trapp 0-1 0-0 0, Higgason 0-2 0-0 0, Anderson 2-2 0-0 4, Wiltse 4-9 2-2 11, Urban 6-19 5-10 20, Foust 3-6 1-2 8. Totals 16-44 8-14 46.
3-point goals—OB 6-19 (Bahr 1-3, Trapp 0-1, Wiltse 1-1, Urban 3-12, Foust 1-2); H 1-7 (Kemmerer 0-1, Fowler 0-2, Danen Kistner 1-4).
CLASS 1A-DIV. 2 BOYS
DODGE CITY, UNITED WIRELESS ARENA
SATURDAY
1ST PLACE—Central Christian-Hartford winner vs. Caldwell-Wallace County winner, 6:15 p.m.
3RD PLACE—Central Christian-Hartford loser vs. Caldwell-Wallace County loser, 2 p.m.
FRIDAY’S SEMIFINALS
4:45 p.m.—Central Christian 19-4 vs. Hartford 18-5
8:15 p.m. — Caldwell 21-2 vs. Wallace County 17-6
THURSDAY
Hutchinson Central Christian 60, Grainfield-Wheatland 50
Hartford 49, Otis-Bison 46, OT
Caldwell 64, Axtell 40
Wallace County 51, Ashland 36
