By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSporsZone.com)
Last year’s second-place plaque won’t be thrown away.
It will just be moved aside.
Springfield Catholic claimed its first district title since 1997 with a thrilling 68-62 victory over host Strafford in the Class 3 District 11 finals Saturday night.
Junior Jake Branham scored a game-high 35 and, afterwards, appeared immediately ready to move on from recent history.
“We brought the second-place plaque that we got last year,” Branham said. “Our motto was, ‘If we won this one, we’d throw the other one away.’ The second-place one is going in the trash. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
For real?
“Nah, I’m just kidding,” Branham admitted. “We’re keeping it, too.”
Catholic faces Mt. Vernon in the Class 3 sectional round at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Willard High School.
A year after losing in the district finals to Fair Grove, Catholic was on the verge of another heartbreaking loss.
The Irish led 60-54 with about 2:45 left. Kensen White and Weston Boswell hit 3-pointers on Strafford’s next two possessions to tie the game.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Catholic didn’t blink.
The Irish went six-for-six at the free throw line in the final two minutes. In between, Strafford missed a jumper and a 3-pointer.
As a team, Catholic went 23-for-27 at the free throw line.
Branham made all 15 of his free throw attempts. He scored 23 of his 35 points in the second half.
“To be so close last year when no one thought we’d make it that far was great, but then to lose was terrible,” said Catholic junior Tyson Riley. “We wanted to come back this year, make it, and go farther than before.”
Up 66-62 with 5.4 seconds left, Riley – the quarterback for the football team – launched an in-bounds pass the length of the court to Mike Manzardo for a layup as time expired.
It was a fun way to cap off Catholic’s first district title in 21 years.
“In the huddle, coach told Michael to go back and then come forward,” Riley said. “When we saw the way (Strafford) was lined up, Michael and I looked at each other and I was like, ‘Go!’ As soon as he took off, I threw it, made it and it was game over.”
The Irish trailed 35-30 at halftime. Strafford led by as many as nine points in the first half.
“Our first half wasn’t a typical first half for us,” said Catholic coach Dustin Larson. “I knew our guys would come back, compete and give us a chance at the end. They’ve really grown up a lot as a team.”
Kensen White led Strafford with 22 points. Weston Boswell scored 15 and Riley Oberbeck added 14 points.
The Indians finish 22-7 overall.
The outcome marks the final career game for Strafford head coach Mike Wilson, who announced his retirement last week.
Catholic 68, Strafford 62
Strafford 13 22 11 16 — 62
Catholic 14 16 18 20 — 68
Strafford – Kensen White 22, Weston Boswell 15, Riley Oberbeck 14, Dillon Hester 7, Trenton Roebke 2, Wyatt Maples 1
Catholic – Jake Branham 35, Mike Manzardo 9, Ian Cochran 9, Tyson Riley 7, Wallace Squibb 4, Charlie O’Reilly 2, Will Morrison 1, Hunter Brown 1
