Basketball Team Loses District Championship In Double-OT

The basketball team’s season ended with a dramatic, double overtime loss to top seed Ruskin High School in the district championship last Saturday. The squad, seeded second in the tournament, fell to Ruskin, 63-61.

After receiving a first round bye, the team advanced to the district championship by defeating Raymore-Peculiar High School 61-55 in the semifinals.

In the end, the team finished the season with a record of 15-10 ending just one win away from reaching the state sectionals. According to senior Matt Lampo, point guard, the team’s goal before the season was the same as always: to get to the semi-finals of the state tournament in Columbia, Mo.

“We are not happy about losing in districts,” Lampo said. “But we gave it our best shot.”

Junior Pat Jones, guard, led the team with 22 points in the district championship game, hitting two three pointers. Senior Clarence Kirkwood, forward, and Lampo both scored 11 points, each hitting three three pointers.

According to Mr. Mark Nusbaum, head basketball coach, the team executed their game plan very well during the game.

“Our focus was to take good shots, rebound, and play solid defensively. We made [Ruskin] take jump shots the whole game. We were also able to limit their transition game,” Coach Nusbaum said.

However, Coach Nusbaum cited not taking care of the ball in overtime as the group’s downfall.

While turnovers were an issue during the final game, the team also experienced larger setbacks that preceded the actual contest, including injuries and other issues that kept each of the three main contributors at the guard position, Lampo, Jones, and senior Chris Bohannon, point guard, out for periods of the season.

Injuries were so prevalent throughout the season that the team played only one game with a full roster, according to Coach Nusbaum.

Now, with seven seniors graduating, younger players will have to step up next season for the team to be successful. However, Coach Nusbaum says, that due to the mark they have left on the program, these seniors will not be forgotten.

“From a personal standpoint, it will be very difficult to see [these seniors] go. My boys have grown up with them, and they are like brothers to my boys. From a coaching standpoint, watching them grow into leaders throughout the season was memorable,” Coach Nusbaum said.

Despite the early exit from the state playoffs, Coach Nusbaum says he will hold this team in a positive light for years.

“It was like going to an amusement park for the first time … It was a fun ride, and I would do it over again if I could,” he said.

 

 

 

 

Tags Basketball bohannon districts jones kirkwood lampo Nusbaum overtime raymore-peculiar ruskin