Cardinal in flight Jordan Riewer, with four NL-S players in his way to the basket, passed off to a teammate. Riewer was the team The Cardinal boys season is over.

Despite a tremendous performance by senior Jordan Riewer, Staples Motley lost 71-68 as a 45-foot desperation shot by New London Spicer sailed t h rough the net as the buzzer sounded the end of overtime.

A deva stated Jordan Riewer collapsed on the floor, his goal of playing in the state tournament unrealized, despite scoring 34 points, 30 of them in the second half. The five year starter also had 11 rebounds, five assists and a blocked shot in the championship game. It was one of the best displays of courage and basketball skill by a Cardinal athlete in many years.

“Our kids played their hearts out, they played hard,” Coach Lynn Peterson said. “We came back from 11 points down. I feel we played as well as we could have.”

With a time out called and 2.8 seconds left on the clock, NL-S in bounded the ball at mid-court to Moten, who faked out Wentworth and cooly put up the shot that ended the game.

High arch The clock shows four seconds left as Derek Wolhowe Behind 33-23, the second half saw Riewer score five points in the first minute of play. He continued to spark a 12-2 Cardinal run in the first three minutes by draining two long three’s after his initial layup in traffic. Jason Johnson added his two baskets to narrow the Wildcat lead to one point.

Riewer missed a three point attempt, but came back for a short jump shot, followed with his third three point basket near the 12 minute mark. The Cards still trailed 40-39.

NL-S took a 44-39 lead before Riewer nailed two more baskets, tying the score at 44. Ten seconds later, he stole the ball and put the Cards ahead for the first time 47-44. He had scored 20 points in just under eight minutes.

Showing total determination, Riewer helped build on that lead. With baskets by Wentworth and Jon Bristow, they pushed the lead to 60-51, the last points on a Wentworth lay up with 3-1/2 minutes left in the game.

That was the high point, however, as NL-S scored the next seven points, including a three pointer by Moten, cutting the lead to 60-58. After a Jason Johnson free throw, Moten’s second three pointer in just over 30 seconds tied the game at 61-61. There was no scoring in the final 59 seconds of regulation.

Overtime found NL-S taking the lead first on a jumper by Eric Tengwall.

Riewer retaliated with a three pointer, while Trevor Wentworth’s lay up gave the Cards a three point lead, 66-63. Moten put NL-S ahead 68-66 with a jump shot, before Wolhowe, with four seconds left, tied the game at 68-all. Everyone thought there would be a second overtime.

That set the stage for Moten’s last second shot, which ended the game, the season and the hopes of Cardinal players and fans.

High flyer Cardinal Trevor Wentworth gave the Cardinals a nine-point lead with this layup with about five minutes left in the game. (Photo for the Staples World by Bill Johnson) Staples Motley had allowed the New London- Spicer Wildcats to take a 10 point lead, 33-23, at halftime. The Wildcats led, except for the five times when the game was tied, through the first half.

Early on, Trevor Wentworth made three consecutive baskets, tying the game at 6 and 8 points. Midway through the first half, Jon Bristow tied the game again at 15-15 with a layup. The first half ended with the Wildcats scoring the fi- nal six points to take their ten point lead.

“Jordan played a tremendous game, he showed his will to win, and it was certainly a great performance,” Coach Peterson said.

Peterson felt the loss should not take away from the team’s season. Staples Motley enjoyed a 24-6 season, playing some tough competition. Including NL-S, six teams on the SM schedule are in the state tournament.

In a crowd Cardinal Jon Bristow had a soft touch as he guided the ball toward the basket in this first half action, with NL-S Wildcats Jayme Moten and Aaron Johnson in his way. (Photo for the Staples World by Bill Johnson) The Staples Motley team will hold their awards banquet this Sunday night at Lakewood Health System lower level.

Game Results March 19 Section 6AA finals

New London-Spicer (71) Aaron Jenny 7, Jayme Moten 21, Erik Tengwall 20, Justin Zylstra 6, Aaron Johnson 17. FG 29-64 (45.3 percent). FT 5-6. Threepoint baskets: 8-25 (Moten 5, Tengwall 2, Jenny). Rebounds: 36 (Zylstra 9). Turnovers: 10.

Staples Motley (68): Trevor Wentworth 12, Jason Johnson 6, Derek Wolhowe 7, Jordan Riewer 34, Jon Bristow 9. FG 29- 59 (49.2 percent). FT 2-6. Threepoint baskets: 8-21 (Riewer 6, Wolhowe, Bristow). Rebounds: 32 (Riewer 11). Turnovers: 9.
In your face Aaron Johnson of the NL-S Wildcats tried to block Cardinal Jason Johnson
On the move Staples Motley fans in the student section, many with painted faces and colorful costumes, stood, yelled, waved and hollered long and hard in support of their basketball team in the Section 6AA championship game Friday night at St. Cloud State University. It was not a happy ending, as New London-Spicer won the right to continue to the state basketbasll tournament. (Photo for the Staples World by Bill Johnson)
Not the right trophy The Staples Motley boys sadly accepted the Section 6AA runners-up trophy Friday night after their three point loss in overtime to New London Spicer. The boys finished their season with a record of 24 wins and six losses. (Staples World photo by Tom Crawford)