Excitement was on the faces of the Winner High School boys basketball team as Brendan Harter powered his way to the basket to give the Warriors a 63-62 overtime victory over Cheyenne-Eagle Butte in the Region 6A championship last Tuesday in Pierre.
The victory propelled the Warriors into the State A tournament which starts March 19 in Rapid City.
Winner, the No. 2 seed, will play the No. 7 seed St. Thomas More at 7 p.m. on March 19 in the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The Warriors take a 21-1 record into the state tournament.
The Region 6A championship was an electrifying atmosphere in the Pierre Riggs gym.
The Warriors had a 10 point lead with 6 minutes remaining in the game but CEB clawed their way back to tie the game at 57-all at the end of regulation.
The Warriors continued to battle in the overtime and it stated off with two free throws by Lattrel Terkildsen.
“We are so proud of our student athletes for showing some guts and coming away with a tight victory in one of the most exciting games and atmosphere in a long time,” said coach Brett Gardner.
“Our seniors, juniors and sophomores all stepped up and made plays when they needed to be made,” said the coach.
The winning basket was made by Harter who powered his way to the basket with 9 seconds left in the game. CEB took the rebound and took two shots that did not fall into the hoop. The Warriors fans were ecstatic since the team was bound to the state tournament.
Harter led Winner in scoring with 26 points followed by Nathan Galbraith with 11, Terkildsen, 9 and Devon Leiferman, 9.
Winner led 18-14 at the end of the first quarter and at the half led 35-32.
Late in the third quarter, CEB took the lead 42-41 but Winner came up with key shots to lead 49-44 at the end of the third period.
The Warriors were 22 of 37 from the two point range and 4 of 19 from the three point line.
At the free throw line, Winner connected on 7 of 16 shots.
Harter pulled down 12 rebounds, Galbraith, 11 and Leiferman, 4.
Galbraith had 6 assists.
Gardner said the team gave up too many points but still made the stops when needed.
The coach said after Harter’s shot in the final seconds then the Warrior defense got the biggest stop of the year. “We are excited to be the Region 6A champs,” said Gardner, who will be going to the state tournament for the first time as a head coach.
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