Indians Defeat Bulldogs In Overtime
The Indians earned an overtime win over the scrappy Quinter Bulldogs in Quinter on Saturday afternoon. The make-up game (postponed due to weather on November 30) was a good one with the teams exchanging baskets and the lead throughout the contest. St. Francis scored 15 points in overtime to earn an 80-70 victory. Brady Dinkel had an outstanding performance scoring 43 points in the contest. It was the second most points ever scored in the game by a St. Francis Indian. (Tate Busse scored 46 against Greeley County on 2/16/2018.)
Brady Dinkel opened the contest with a right wing trey. Quinter's Gordon Wolf (5' 9" Sr.) answered on the next Quinter possession. Two more Bulldog treys, one each by Kasen Ostmeyer (6' 0" Jr.) and Wolf gave the Bulldogs and early 3-9 lead. After a deep-deuce from the top-of-the-key by Dinkel, Wolf added two free-throws and Connor Havlas (6' 4" Sr.) scored on a post-move. It would be the first of many outstanding plays the Quinter post-man would have in the contest. Havlas' first rebound in the contest set a new Quinter High School record for rebounds. Quinter now led 5-13. Colton Neitzel's assist led to a free-throw area score by Connor Keller. Havlas then added two more on an out-of-bounds play lob. After a free-throw by Jesse Baxter, Quinter's Jaden Boone (6' 3" Fr.) scored from the post. Dinkel dribbled coast-to-coast for the Indians and then drained a right-wing trey (assist Keller). Cody Baxter's steal-two narrowed the deficit to six (13-19). Kyler Johnson (5' 5" Fr.) then drained a deep buzzer-beater trey to close the quarter. St. Francis trailed 15-20 after one period of play. If the Bulldogs continued to shoot as well as they did in the first quarter, it was going to be a long night for the Indians.
At 7:39 in the second quarter, Colton Neitzel drew a charge on a Connor Havlas drive. Momentum was gathering for the Indians. Moments later, Dinkel drained another trey; this one from the left side. A basket and a free-throw by Jesse Baxter followed giving the Indians a 21-20 lead. Wolf made sure the lead was short-lived with a right-wing trey. Ostmeyer followed with another trey for the Bulldogs placing the Indians at a five-point deficit. Dinkel responded with a left-wing trey for the Indians. At 4:29, Quinter called time-out and returned to the floor sporting a box-and-one defense. On the next Quinter possession, Havlas scored on an offensive rebound. Neitzel earned a stick-back basket for the Indians a bit later. With 2:01 remaining, Havlas scored on another excellent post-move (plus one). returning the lead to Quinter (30-31). Oura Chester (5' 8" Sr.) followed with a left-corner trey; the 4th player to make a trey for Quinter in the first half. Just before the half ended, Wolf earned a steal-two to move the score to 30-36 in favor of the Bulldogs.
The Indians opened the second half with a jumper in the lane by Jesse Baxter and a top-of-the-key trey by Connor Keller. Quinter used a quick time-out at 6:23. At 5:55, Keller drained another three-ball giving St. Francis the lead (38-36). Baxter then picked up his third foul and was whistled for a technical due to his response. Quinter's Jaden Boone made 3-of-4 free-throws giving the lead back to Quinter (5:44). Fourteen seconds later, Brady Dinkel earned a steal and was fouled on his way to the goal. Dinkel sank both free-throws. Again, the lead did not last long; Wolf answered with a left-wing trey. When Quinter added a trey by Eli Gruenbacher (5' 3" Fr.) and Boone scored on a drive, the Bulldogs had a comfortable 7-point lead. Gruenbacher's second trey extended the margin to double digits (40-50). It was time to make some plays; and the Indians responded positively. K.C. Krien scored on an offensive rebound. Dinkel added a basket on a cut to the goal (assist Colton Neitzel; plus one). Dinkel then added a steal-two, two free-throws, and a left-wing trey. The three-ball gave St. Francis the lead with 40 seconds left in the third period (52-50). Quinter's Gordon Wolf swished a trey after an offensive rebound retaking the lead. Dinkel's deep buzzer-beater trey ended the period with the Indians leading 55-53. The third quarter featured 7 lead changes. Dinkel scored 15 points in the quarter.
Cody Baxter made 1-of-2 from the line to open the final stanza. Connor Havlas followed with a baseline drive. Josiah Sims added a driving score for the Indians, but Boone soon answered from the post for the Bulldogs. Colton Neitzel's free-throw moved the scoreboard to 59-57. At 4:31, Quinter used their 4th time-out. At 4:12, Havlas scored on a stick-back basket tying the contest once more. After a Dinkel free-throw, Wolf scored on a break-out lay-up and was fouled. Though the free-throw was missed, the Bulldogs were back in front 60-61. As he had done all evening, Dinkel responded with another basket; a trey from the left side at 2:03. It didn't take Wolf long to answer; at 1:53, he tied the game at 63-all. Dinkel scored a driving basket on the next Indian possession, but Boone answered at the following end seconds later. With 48.6 seconds left, Quinter called time-out. After a missed shot attempt by the Bulldogs, St. Francis called time-out to set up offense at 28.6. The Indians inbounded the ball and quickly called time-out again after viewing the defense. The Indians set up for a final shot with 26 seconds to go. The Indians shot attempt at 10 seconds was rebounded by Quinter. A last second desperation heave by the Bulldogs sailed over the backboard. Tied at 65-all, the teams prepared for overtime.The Indians took full control in overtime. St. Francis opened play with a free-throw line jumper by Jesse Baxter (assist Connor Keller). On the next SF possession, Keller drained another trey from the top-of-the-key. With 3 minutes left in the contest, Baxter fouled out of the game. Dinkel was called for a charge on the next SF possession; his first of the game. Near the two minute mark. Havlas added a post basket. The Indians followed with two Dinkel free-throws, two Krien free-throws, and a driving score by Dinkel. The Indians led 76-67 with one minute to play. At 50 seconds, Kyler Johnson drained a trey for the Bulldogs, and Quinter used another time-out. It would be the final Bulldog basket. St. Francis added two-free throws each by Dinkel and Keller to preserve the win. St. Francis and Quinter had both battled competitively, but the Indians had prevailed in overtime, 80-70.
There were several outstanding performances in the contest. Brady Dinkel led all scorers with 43 points. Connor Keller added 16 for the Indians (a career high). Connor Havlas set a new Quinter High School career rebounding record during the contest and also added 17 points. Gordon Wolf scored 19 for Quinter. Jaden Boone added 11 to the Bulldogs' cause. Additional Indians scoring were Jesse Baxter 8, K.C. Krien and Colton Neitzel 4, Cody Baxter 3, and Josiah Sims 2.
The Bulldogs made 5 of 16 from the line (missing 5 in the 4th quarter and overtime), committed 18 fouls, and had 20 turnovers. The Indians made 19-of-27 free-throws, were whistled for 18 fouls, and had 12 turnovers. The Indians made 11 treys in the contest; Quinter made 12.
The Indians will play Holyoke, Colorado, in Holyoke on Tuesday, January 29. The Dragons currently have a season record of 2-10.
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