Heights escapes Kapaun in OT
Familiar faces helped the top-ranked Heights boys basketball team avoid its first loss in more than two years. There just weren't as many of them.
The second game of the season was probably an ideal time for the Falcons to find out how the 10 players who weren't a part of Heights' run of three consecutive state titles would hold up during a close game.
With seniors Terrence Moore and Perry Ellis providing exemplary play, Heights coach Joe Auer gained valuable knowledge about his mostly inexperienced team in the Falcons' 61-52 overtime win over Kapaun on Tuesday night, extending the state's longest winning streak to 46 games.
"There are certain kids that I'm used to looking in their eyes late (in games), and they're not here," Auer said, referring mostly to last year's seniors Evan Wessel, E J Dobbins and Dreamius Smith. "We've got new guys."
They are new guys that are blended in with a trio of proven players. Moore has shared the backcourt with Dobbins and Wessel in the past but is now the Falcons' most experienced guard. He held Heights together when Kapaun led during most of the final three quarters.
Thurman gave Heights a versatile post presence as Ellis started slow, and the Southeast transfer finished with a team-high 19 points.
Ellis missed two close shots at the end of regulation but dominated overtime to finish with 18 points and 12 rebounds. He scored seven points in overtime, starting with a basket to give Heights a lead it didn't relinquish.
"I was frustrated I missed those last couple shots," Ellis said. "I was going hard, and I told my team, 'We've got to get the jump ball (to start overtime),' and I just went all-out."
Kapaun's biggest lead was 44-36 to start the fourth quarter, and instead of trying to build on it, the Crusaders slowed the pace considerably in the fourth.
Even as its lead was dwindling, Kapaun was reluctant to regain its aggressiveness, drawing out possessions with an effort to wear down the Falcons.
"When we have the ball, Heights can't score," Kapaun coach John Cherne said. "We just tried to grind the clock down a little bit."
The Crusaders weren't scoring much, either, tallying six points on three shots in the fourth. Their poor performance from the free-throw line (18 of 32) seemed to make trying to draw fouls a questionable strategy. Heights used turnovers and missed free throws to steadily inch closer.
Even while trailing in overtime Kapaun didn't attack the basket, using about 90 seconds during one possession that ended with a missed three-pointer.
"They really kind of bailed us out a little bit," Auer said. "But they had a great game plan. Our kids responded with great ball pressure."
Heights' proven players scored all but six of the Falcons' points, but the inexperienced ones followed their lead by staying calm during a trying situation. Heights committed nine turnovers and made 9 of 13 free throws in the fourth quarter and overtime.
"We're kind of in uncharted waters," Auer said. "It was great to see how they handled the adversity of being on the wrong side of the outcome. It was getting away from us."
Heights (2-0, 2-0) 15 9 12 14 11 — 61 Kapaun (1-1, 1-1) 14 15 15 6 2 — 52
HEIGHTS: Moore 4 8-9 18, Lynch 1 2-6 4, Bell 1 0-1 2, Thurman 6 5-6 19, P. Ellis 6 6-7 18, Lattimore 0 0-0 0, Reed 0 0-0 0, Kolbeck 0 0-0 0, Smith 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 (4) 21-29 61.
KAPAUN: Hullings 4 3-4 12, M. Martin 4 7-9 17, J. Martin 0 0-0 0, Young 2 2-4 8, Cook 2 3-4 5, Hagan 0 0-0 0, Baxter 2 0-0 5, Lickteig 1 3-6 5, Hamilton 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 (6) 18-32 52.