Thirty two minutes were not enough to settle Monday’s high school boys basketball between Bushnell-Prairie City and Knoxville.
Despite getting double-double performances from guards De’Arion Ruffin-Thomas and Connor Palm, the Spartans lost to the host Blue Bullets 72-68 in overtime.
Knoxville improved to 2-14 on the season, while B-PC dropped to 2-15.
B-PC opened an 18-13 lead after the opening eight minutes as Ruffin-Thomas and Palm combined for 12 points, while Logan Ash added four points for the Spartans.
Knoxville rallied in the second quarter, outscoring the Spartans 14-9 to pull even at 27-27 entering halftime.
Both teams scored 17 points in the third period. Ruffin-Thomas and Braylon Griffitts combined for all 17 B-PC points, as the two teams entered the last eight minutes of regulation knotted at 44-44.
B-PC held a 59-56 in the final seconds when Wayne Beardsley connected on a 3-pointer that tied the contest at 59-59, sending the game into overtime.
In the extra session, Grant Lambert and Hank Walters combined for 12 of Knoxville’s 13 points to help the hosts escape with the win.
Ruffin-Thomas topped B-PC with 30 points and 13 rebounds, while Palm added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Spartans.
Griffitts tallied 11 points and added five rebounds, while Ash had six points and eight rebounds.
Dylan King and Ryan Adler chipped in two points each, while John Malda added a free throw for B-PC.
“The boys did a great job. I’m proud of them,” said B-PC coach Shane Curry. “I think they know I’m proud of them and how they fought.”
“I can honestly say I know that they’re giving me everything they got in their tank,” he added of the players.
Knoxville had three players score more than 20 points apiece.
Walters led the way with 22 points, followed by Wayne Beardsley with 21 points and Lambert with 20 points.
The JV contest saw Knoxville pull away in the final period in recording a 43-34 victory.
B-PC trailed 13-9 after the opening quarter before rallying to tie the contest at 19-19 by halftime.
The Blue Bullets led 30-28 entering the last frame before outscoring the visitors 13-6 in securing the win.
King topped B-PC with 16 points. Charles Rudolph was next with eight points, followed by Thomas Anderson with seven.
Landon Ferguson rounded out the Spartan scoring with a 3-pointer.
Quincy Uhland topped Knoxville with 18 points, including four 3-pointers.
Kallen Evans added eight for the Blue Bullets.
