West Prairie’s Matt Whitman admitted the game’s final play was “botched.”
But when his 3-point attempt went through the hoop as the final buzzer sounded, Whitman and the Cyclones had notched their 12th straight victory in edging visiting Griggsville- Perry 55-54 Saturday evening.
West Prairie improved to 17-4 on the season, while Griggsville-Perry dropped to 7-8.
“It was an ‘in the moment’ thing,” said Whitman. “Just grab it, throw it up and whatever happens, happens.”
“That’s kind of how basketball works sometimes,” said West Prairie coach Ian Conkling. “Everyone has to be wiling to take that shot in that opportunity.”
The game-winner was the only basket by Whitman, who finished with four points, along with two rebounds.
Consecutive 3-pointers by Mario Rodgers had given the Tornadoes a 47-42 lead with 4:17 remaining.
West Prairie trailed thereafter until Whitman’s final shot.
Just seconds before the final shot, G-P’s Kason Brown had a near steal that resulted in a jump ball with 2.5 seconds to go.
Eli DeCounter inbounded the ball to Whitman who caught the ball at the 10-foot volleyball spike line. He took one dribble and shot over Rodgers.
Whitman was mobbed by his teammates on the court as the Griggsville-Perry players stood stunned before slowly working their way back to their bench.
“I praise this team. I love this team for our commitment to staying in the game the whole time,” said Whitman. “We went running up and down the court full press for the last three minutes. I wouldn’t even think of being in that position to have that shot.”
The Tornadoes outscored the Cyclones 14-9 in the second period in taking a 30-25 halftime lead.
Braden Coplan and Ryan Clark each scored five points in the third quarter as the Cyclones inched within 38-36 entering the final eight minutes.
“We knew with their length, the way they press and their zone and how we are height-wise as a team that we would have some issues,” Conkling said of facing Griggsville-Perry.
“Most teams we have been playing have been playing man (defense),” he added. “It was getting back to that bugaboo of going against a zone.”
Braden Coplan topped West Prairie with 28 points that included a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.
He also had two assists and two steals.
Clark added 13 points, eight rebounds and two steals, while Holden Coplan had seven points, four rebounds and four steals.
DeCounter had three points, six rebounds and a team-high six assists.
“We’ve been playing good team basketball,” said Whitman. “Everybody’s gotten their shot and everybody knows what their role is on this team, which has allowed us to get on that run.”
“Our confidence is definitely growing,” he added. “I think when we get up tight and try and do too much in a game, we’re not at our best. When we play loose, have fun and smile at each other, that's when we play our best ball.”
“With our basketball team in particular, sometimes just allowing them to play, I consider it freelance and structure with a purpose, they play their best,” said Conkling. “Because they don’t have to think ‘What do I need to do? What’s my next move?’ It allows a little freedom within the offense and within the structure of what we’re trying to do.”
“We’ve grown up a lot as the season has come along,” he added. “Starting early on that winning streak has put a lot of confidence in ourselves, the way we’re trying to play on both ends of the floor.”
Levi Barnes and Brody Rush topped Griggsville- Perry with 13 and 12 points respectively.
Rodgers added nine points in the fourth quarter, while Jax Fesler added eight for the Tornadoes.
On Friday evening at Toulon, the Cyclones rolled to a 62-33 victory over host Stark County.
Braden Coplan scored a game-high 25 points, also adding four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Matt Whitman added nine points, six rebounds and two assists, while Holden Coplan had seven points, four rebounds, three assists and four steals.
DeCounter also scored seven points and grabbed a team-leading 10 rebounds, while blocking three shots and handing out two assists.
Clark added seven points and four rebounds, while Gannon Shipman had four points, three rebounds and two blocked shots.
Hunter Jackson added two points and three rebounds, while Brody Cordell added a free throw, along with four rebounds.
Meanwhile, after starting the season 15-0, the West Prairie JV squad suffered its first loss Saturday afternoon with the visiting Tornadoes notching a 51-43 victory.
Griggsville-Perry built an 18-12 lead after the opening period and doubled it to 32-20 at halftime.
West Prairie battled back in the third frame, cutting the deficit to 39-33 entering the final minutes. But the Tornadoes outscored the Cyclones 12-10 in the final minutes to hang on for the win.
Shipman topped West Prairie with 16 points.
Ayden Lacey added 11 points, followed by Tyson Carnes with seven, Holden Coplan with four, Ivan Beck with three and Max French with one.
Kason Brown led Griggsville- Perry with 20 points.
Maddox Winchell added 11 and Wes Bower 10 for the Tornadoes.
The Cyclones JV headed to Bushnell Monday for a contest against Bushnell-Prairie City.
On Tuesday, the varsity squad will head to Bushnell as part of a girl/boy doubleheader.
The Cyclones will then host Hartsburg-Emden Friday before playing at Payson-Seymour on Saturday.
“Our group is very close and they push each other at practice,” said Conkling. “They care for one another and cheer each other on. We’re in a good place within our program.”
