EVANSVILLE - The senior-led Glarner Knights have had high hopes all season long.
First there was a conference championship, that was lost in the closing seconds to Marshall.
This time, it was a triple-overtime loss to top-ranked Cuba City in the Division 3 boys basketball regional final, 87-76.
"We talked about it being a game of runs. They would get up, we would get up. We battled, but they made the last run of the game and that was the difference," head coach Travis Sysko said after Saturday's game.
New Glarus found itself in a tightly contested game early. Two 3-pointers by senior Logan Lockard had the Knights down just 13-12 after the first quarter. By halftime, the score was even at 26-26.
Fellow senior Cassidy Flannery scored seven points in the second quarter, and showed that as a senior, he would do more in order to win.
"We left it out on the floor," Flannery said.
In the third quarter, the Knights went on a roll. Midway through the frame, New Glarus had taken an 8-point lead on the Cubans, 37-29. That's when Cuba City junior Evan Richard began to take over.
Richard, one of the top players in the state, scored 11 points in the first half, but could not be stopped after that, finishing the game with 47 points.
"He's everything to us," legendary head coach Jerry Petitgoue said. "He had a strained calf muscle and he was still on fire. We were just going to ride him."
Petitgoue has a 748-191 record in 39 seasons at Cuba City.
Richard scored six points for the Cubans as New Glarus' lead turned into a one-point deficit at 38-37. However, it could be said that the officiating had its ups and downs throughout the game, typically keeping the score closer than it should have been.
Knights' junior Ryan Bright tried to deter any of the negative vibes, scoring eight of his team-high 27 points, in the frame. Bright finished with six 3s.
"I think Ryan grew up a little today. Hopefully he saw what he is capable of," Sysko said. "We expect big things from him next year."
In the closing minutes of the fourth, New Glarus twice trailed by five. Senior Jake Bast, who finished with just four points before fouling out, tipped in a hoop with 1:50 left to play. Bright followed with a 3 just 30 seconds later to trim the score to 56-54. With 45 seconds left, Bright drove to the hole and tied up the score at 56.
"It's been the seniors' team all year, and the rest of us just kind of fill in when necessary. Today it came my way," Bright said.
Flannery took a late loose ball the length of the court, but was called for a controversial charge instead of getting a defensive blocking call as time expired, forcing the game into overtime.
"I thought the call was made because of the coach on the other side. I don't want to sound bad saying that, but when it comes down to the end, let the players decide the outcome," Flannery said. New Glarus was called for 30 fouls in the game, with the strong majority coming in the final minutes, while Cuba City was called just 20 times. Sysko declined to comment on the officiating.
In the first overtime, New Glarus went down by three points as Bast picked up his fifth foul. Flannery drove the lane and Bright hit another 3, giving New Glarus a 62-61 lead with 1:24 left to play. However, the game went into a second overtime tied at 63.
After winning the tip, Bright nailed a 3. Lockard connected on a pair of free throws to give the Knights a 68-63 lead with 3:16 left to play.
Richard came back, scoring the next five points to tie the score. Richard scored 20 points in the three overtimes.
"He's a phenomenal talent who can get off whatever shot he wants," Sysko said.
Richard did miss a shot, however, with less than 10 seconds left. Flannery raced down the court, trying for a layup at the buzzer again, but was called for a second charge, and his fifth foul, with 2.2 seconds left, sending the game into a third overtime, tied at 69.
With four of its five starters, Flannery, Bast, Lockard and Matt Felt, on the bench after fouling out, New Glarus ran out of steam and Cuba City rolled in the third overtime.
"It was one of the most fun games I've ever been a part of," Flannery said.
Flannery scored 18 points and Lockard had 13.
First there was a conference championship, that was lost in the closing seconds to Marshall.
This time, it was a triple-overtime loss to top-ranked Cuba City in the Division 3 boys basketball regional final, 87-76.
"We talked about it being a game of runs. They would get up, we would get up. We battled, but they made the last run of the game and that was the difference," head coach Travis Sysko said after Saturday's game.
New Glarus found itself in a tightly contested game early. Two 3-pointers by senior Logan Lockard had the Knights down just 13-12 after the first quarter. By halftime, the score was even at 26-26.
Fellow senior Cassidy Flannery scored seven points in the second quarter, and showed that as a senior, he would do more in order to win.
"We left it out on the floor," Flannery said.
In the third quarter, the Knights went on a roll. Midway through the frame, New Glarus had taken an 8-point lead on the Cubans, 37-29. That's when Cuba City junior Evan Richard began to take over.
Richard, one of the top players in the state, scored 11 points in the first half, but could not be stopped after that, finishing the game with 47 points.
"He's everything to us," legendary head coach Jerry Petitgoue said. "He had a strained calf muscle and he was still on fire. We were just going to ride him."
Petitgoue has a 748-191 record in 39 seasons at Cuba City.
Richard scored six points for the Cubans as New Glarus' lead turned into a one-point deficit at 38-37. However, it could be said that the officiating had its ups and downs throughout the game, typically keeping the score closer than it should have been.
Knights' junior Ryan Bright tried to deter any of the negative vibes, scoring eight of his team-high 27 points, in the frame. Bright finished with six 3s.
"I think Ryan grew up a little today. Hopefully he saw what he is capable of," Sysko said. "We expect big things from him next year."
In the closing minutes of the fourth, New Glarus twice trailed by five. Senior Jake Bast, who finished with just four points before fouling out, tipped in a hoop with 1:50 left to play. Bright followed with a 3 just 30 seconds later to trim the score to 56-54. With 45 seconds left, Bright drove to the hole and tied up the score at 56.
"It's been the seniors' team all year, and the rest of us just kind of fill in when necessary. Today it came my way," Bright said.
Flannery took a late loose ball the length of the court, but was called for a controversial charge instead of getting a defensive blocking call as time expired, forcing the game into overtime.
"I thought the call was made because of the coach on the other side. I don't want to sound bad saying that, but when it comes down to the end, let the players decide the outcome," Flannery said. New Glarus was called for 30 fouls in the game, with the strong majority coming in the final minutes, while Cuba City was called just 20 times. Sysko declined to comment on the officiating.
In the first overtime, New Glarus went down by three points as Bast picked up his fifth foul. Flannery drove the lane and Bright hit another 3, giving New Glarus a 62-61 lead with 1:24 left to play. However, the game went into a second overtime tied at 63.
After winning the tip, Bright nailed a 3. Lockard connected on a pair of free throws to give the Knights a 68-63 lead with 3:16 left to play.
Richard came back, scoring the next five points to tie the score. Richard scored 20 points in the three overtimes.
"He's a phenomenal talent who can get off whatever shot he wants," Sysko said.
Richard did miss a shot, however, with less than 10 seconds left. Flannery raced down the court, trying for a layup at the buzzer again, but was called for a second charge, and his fifth foul, with 2.2 seconds left, sending the game into a third overtime, tied at 69.
With four of its five starters, Flannery, Bast, Lockard and Matt Felt, on the bench after fouling out, New Glarus ran out of steam and Cuba City rolled in the third overtime.
"It was one of the most fun games I've ever been a part of," Flannery said.
Flannery scored 18 points and Lockard had 13.
