Pirates' win streak at four after double overtime thriller
Ethan Smith/Leader<br>Zach Langston had a great weekend against Libby and Columbia Falls. He’s seen here putting the block on a Wildcat, one of several blocks he had that night. His offense has really come alive over the past two weeks, too.
Practicing free throws does pay off.
By Ethan Smith
Leader Staff
Just ask Chris Ogle, who led his team to a thrilling 69-64 double overtime win Tuesday night over AA Big Sky, after going 9-for-10 — part of a 17-for-24 performance by the team from the charity stripe in the extra frames.
Ogle acknowledged after the game he’s been about a 45 percent free throw shooter during the season, but worked on his technique last week.
“We worked on it a lot in practice, just keeping my elbow out,” he said. “I wasn’t really paying attention [to how many he hit], but just tried to get them in.”
But Ogle and his team-high 19 points had plenty of support from his teammates, including Tyler Gordon, who hit a jump shot at the top of the key with a half second left to tie it and send it into overtime.
Gordon, who finished with 15 points, and Ogle, were two of four Pirates in double figures, with James Langston and John Rausch getting 13, Craig Bagnell getting seven and Ryan Kelley hitting a bucket, too.
“These kids did great. They all did. It was a total team effort,” head coach Karl Tait said after the game.
Bagnell helped the team break Big Sky’s constant press late in the game, while Ogle, Gordon, Kelley and Rausch spread the offense out to take precious seconds off the clock.
It was close most of the second half. Down 48-46 with 15 seconds left, Gordon juked his man and pulled up for the jumper to send it into OT.
Ogle went 2-for-2 in the first OT, with Rausch and Bagnell both getting free throws, as well. The team finished 5-for-8 at the end of the first OT, and Big Sky missed it’s potential buzzer beater to go to the second OT.
Gordon’s offensive rebound and ensuing shot made it 58-55, and then Rausch, Bagnell and Ogle all went 2-for-2 from the line.
Then Ogle went to the line and did it again.
And again.
A 3-pointer, quick steal and a bucket brought Big Sky to within five with 15 seconds left, but Polson held on for the win.
“He gets the blood flowing, he’s just a great competitor,” Tait said of Ogle. “That’s just what you would expect of a senior. But it wasn’t just Chris. They all did great. Bagnell was incredible bringing the ball up against the press. This was a big win for the entire team.”
The win is the Pirates’ third in five days, making it four in a row, after the picked up dominant wins over Libby and Columbia Falls last weekend.