By: Kyle Campise
The Ord boy’s basketball team went on the road Tuesday night to face their Lou Platte Conference rivals, the Wood River Eagles, and dropped a heartbreaker in overtime, 60-56.
The sharp shooting Eagles came out in their traditional purple and white stripped warm up bottoms, reminding the fans of the look of the Indiana Hoosiers during warm-ups. They were out dressed by the Chanticleer boys though, because this happened to be tie day for the Chanticleers, where all the boys and coaches were dressed in shirt and tie. Some of the boys were even sporting sport coats. Coach Gates explained that this happens once a year, and that the boys get to pick the game to dress up for. He said tie game must be a road game.
The Eagles came into the game as the number one seed in the upcoming Lou Platte Conference boys’ basketball tournament, but the Chanticleers were up for the challenge. At the post for the Eagles was six-foot senior Beau Rohrich, who finished with fifteen points, seven rebounds and four assists. Rohrich has good size, and presented a challenge for the Chants down low.
Overall, on defense, the Chants played well in front of Doniphan-Trumbull’s head boys’ coach Kelan Buhr, who was in attendance scouting the Chanticleers, who will be the team’s next opponent. Early substitutions of Will Langue and Beau Wells added needed breathers to the starters and kept the team fresh on defense.
Offensively in the first half, the Chants struggled, only posting nine offensive points in each of the first two quarters, leading to a lopsided 31-18 Eagle lead at the half. As seems to often be the case, Coach Gates and his staff of Jason Friesen, Colin Lansman, and Jace Williams made halftime adjustments and came out strong in the second half.
The Chants gradually closed the gap in the second half, and with 2:37 remaining in the game, the score was tied. Ord lost one of its starters with 2:19 left to go, as 5’11” junior Landon Critel fouled out. The bench picked up the slack though, and showed the team’s depth, as Ord took a 49-48 lead with 1:23 to go. As the Eagles tied it up on a free throw, the Chanticleers used a tough defensive stand to send the game into overtime.
The first overtime points were made by Ord 6’3” senior Elijah Pollard, who hit a three to start the overtime period. Pollard finished the game with twenty-five points while going 4 for 9 from the three-point arc. Colton Thompson also added eleven points and led the team with 7 rebounds.