Boys basketball: Prospect tops Hersey in 2 OTs
By the time the second overtime was over between Prospect and Hersey everyone was emotionally drained.
Players, coaches, officials and fans. It was that emotional. Welcome to the Mid-Suburban East.
In a battle royal Prospect held on to defeat the Huskies 75-71 in the Ken Carter gym.
The Knights rallied from being down 49-39 with 4:08 left in regulation to take a 54-52 lead with :07 left. Sophomore Logan Luxom (9 points, 5 rebounds) dropped in a tear drop basket with 0.5 left.
In the first overtime Jackson Hupp (27 points, 7 rebounds) connected on a three point basket for a 60-59 lead.
Drew Terpins led the (16-6, 5-1) Knights with 28 points, hit two free throws with :57 left for a 61-60 lead.
Hupp hit the first of a two shot foul with :41 to send the game to the second overtime.
Tied at 63 Cole Chapman (12 points) converted on a three point play and then scored on an assist from Jerry Drucker for a 68-63 lead which the Knights did not give up.
Luxom who was brought up to the varsity at the Pekin holiday tournament hit a free throw and then a basket to draw Hersey (12-11, 3-3) to within two at 68-66 with 1:10 left. Terpins then hit 7 of 8 free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.
Aiden Walter added 16 points and Ryan Lifton (6 points) played crucial roles in the win.
Jared Ryg backed up Hupp with 17 points.
"It was just a classic game," said Hersey coach David Hess. "This game was just like last years which were both one possession games. The two teams split last season. Hupp has made such an improvement in his game since the start of the year."
"I respect Hupp a lot," said Chapman. "I had to try to get by him on the baskets. We came together in this game as a team to get the win. I think we can use this one as a stepping stone."
"It was a fun and wild high school game for a Monday night," said Prospect coach Brad Rathe. "I'm exhausted. I'm proud of my kids of what they showed being down in the first and seconds halves and coming back. They showed no quit in them. But, that's the way they have played all year."