STURGIS, SD – Dysen Peterson drained a long three-pointer from the top of the key with just four seconds left to give Sturgis a hard-fought 57-54 win over the Red Cloud Crusaders on Thursday night at West Gym. The win keeps the Scooper boys in the mix for a SoDak 16 postseason berth in Class AA basketball.
(watch Peterson’s winning three pointer here:Â https://twitter.com/KbhbSports/status/1494535408281083909)
The Scoopers used hot shooting and stiff defense to limit the Crusaders second chances offensively, and they sprinted out to a 15-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. Sturgis extended their lead to 14 points early in the second before Red Cloud settled down into their game. Crusaders junior Haedyn Haas poured in eight points in the second to cut the Scooper lead to 30-22 at the half.
The third quarter was a back and forth battle as Jules Ecoffey made two quick buckets for the Crusaders, getting Red Cloud within three points, 35-32,. The Scoopers hot shooting continued as they made seven of 11 shots from the field to lead by eight, 47-39 headed into the fourth.
Red Cloud kept battling and went on a 12-5 run to cut the Scooper lead to 52-51 with just over a minute left. Monty Montilleaux was fouled and made one of two free throws to tie the game at 52. Owen Cass missed a shot with just under a minute left and Peterson ripped down the offensive rebound and put it back up for two, giving Sturgis a 54-52 lead. Then the Scooper defense fell asleep and Adriano Rama made them pay, going coast to coast for an easy layup to tie the game at 54. The Scoopers took the inbounds pass and got the ball to half court when Sturgis head coach Derris Buus called a timeout with 17.9 seconds left.
“We knew that Dysen (Peterson) had been shooting the ball well, him and Tyan (Buus) both,” said Buus. “Red Cloud did a good job of keeping Tyan away from the ball and we knew that we could get Dysen open. That play is designed to get Dysen an open shot. He got open and he made the shot. It worked out just like we drew it up and it usually doesn’t work out that way.”
Crusaders head coach Christian McGhee decided not to call time out after Peterson’s three pointer and let his boys try to get an open shot. Red Cloud had one last chance to win the game as Rama launched a bomb from 45 feet that made contact with the rim but bounced away. The win against one of the top local Class A teams was big for the Scoopers.
“The kids battled extremely hard,” said Buus. “We got off to a good start and just executed really well. It was nice to win a close one. It was nice to see the boys get rewarded for their hard work.”
Peterson had an outstanding game for Sturgis, snaring 10 rebounds and scoring 16 points with three three-pointers. Tyan Buus added 12 and three three’s of his own with Owen Cass contributing 10 points. The Scoopers improve to 5-13 on the season and make up a little ground in the seed point standings in Class AA on Rapid City Central, who sits in the #16 spot. Central is on the road this weekend, playing Huron tonight and Mitchell on Saturday.
Earlier in the evening, the Red Cloud girls ran away with a 67-25 win over the Scoopers. The Crusaders scored 29 in the first quarter on 11 of 22 shooting from the field. The Crusaders had seven three’s in the first half and 11 total for the game. Stevi Fallis dropped in four three’s and 21 points for Red Cloud, who improves to 16-2 on the season. Kaylee Whatley scored 11 for Sturgis, who drops to 4-14. The Scooper girls sit at #18 in the SoDak 16 seed point standings, behind Sioux Falls Roosevelt at #17 and Spearfish in the #16 slot. Â
Both Scooper squads are at home on Tuesday as they host the Douglas Patriots at West Gym. Girls tip off is scheduled for 6:30pm.
