Cowboys Get Dramatic Road Win

Just prior to their holiday break, the Cowboys team traversed some team personnel issues that ironically resulted in the team gaining four players.  This gave North Gem some bench players and a fresh start heading into the new year.  That fresh start began at Grace Lutheran last Friday night.  The Cowboys and Royals had already faced off earlier in the season in Bancroft.  In that game, the Royals dominated the Cowboys, winning 46-28.  This go around things were much more competitive.

In the first period of play both teams came out with an explosion of scoring.  Ryver Hayden led the Cowboys in the quarter scoring twelve points that helped the Cowboys build a four point lead with just seconds left.  As the buzzer sounded, the Royals threw up a desperation half court shot that went in and the North Gem lead was just a single point ahead going into the second.  In the second quarter, the Cowboys took control of the game.  North Gem added fourteen points coming from five different players.  Meanwhile they were able to hold the Royals to just six points.  

In the third period of play the Cowboys hit a slight wall while the Royals turned the scoring back on.  During this momentum shift the drama was not limited to just the players.  Part way through the quarter one of the two officials in the game suffered a minor medical episode which temporarily delayed the game.  Following the short delay it was decided to complete the game with just one official.  The Royals went on to outscore the Cowboys by eight points in the third making it a one point game once again.  

In the fourth quarter the two teams continued to battle back and forth with the game staying close throughout.  At one point in the quarter the Royals would be called for a technical foul.  Hayden would make one of the two foul shots which would prove to be crucial in the closing seconds of the game.  With time ticking down the Royals were awarded the ball under their own basket trailing by one with just enough time left on the clock to get a shot off.  The Cowboy defense stepped up to the challenge making it very difficult for the Royals to inbound the ball.  Just as they were about to get a five second call the Royals got the ball into an open man.  Craig Yost quickly closed in on the ball, knocking it loose and recovering it to secure the Cowboy win.

This was an important win for the Cowboys as they continue their way through conference play.  The win will help them when it comes to seeding the district tournament.  The Cowboys will be back in action on their home court hosting Challis on Thursday before traveling to Mackay on Saturday. 

Cowboys 18 14 8 10 50

Royals 17 6 16 10 49

P.Hill 4, H.Frandsen 2, R.Hatch 6, C.Yost 10, R.Hayden 26, W.Wakley 2