Eagles Soar Over Bears in Overtime

KEOTA–After being tied at 12 after the first quarter, the English Valleys Bears started to make the most of Keota’s stagnant start to the game.

“Our offense wasn’t doing anything when the game started,” Coach Dan Stout of Keota said.

Kaden Hall was almost automatic for the Bears all night, finishing with 35 total points and going 80% from the field and 73.3% from the free throw line.

English Valleys held a 26-20 advantage at halftime.

“Second half we had a 9-10 point run to start the third quarter,” Coach Stout said about the gradual momentum change that led Keota to a 37-35 quarter lead after three.

The fourth quarter was as balanced a quarter as I’ve ever seen. 

English Valleys led 42-40 with 5:49 left. About two minutes later, Keota’s Brady Duwa had to sit on the bench with two fouls. His replacement, Bryce Greiner, splashed two 3-point shots to put the Eagles up by a talon, 50-48.

Carson Sprouse would try to break the deadlock between the two teams with two free throws at the 38.2 second mark, but he only went ½ on the trip and the Eagles led 55-54. Brayden Mikesell was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 2.7 seconds left in the game but went ⅓ to knot the game at 55.

Mikesell would foul out at the 2:42 mark of overtime.

With under 30 seconds to go, Greiner got another basket and Keota made the most of an errant English Valleys pass to go up 64-62.

Luke Hammen sunk two free throws to put the Eagles up three with 8.9 seconds left.

Beau Flander found a Governor Lightfoot at the top of the key but his shot bounced off the rim and Keota held on.