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Boys basketball: North Judson topples Kouts in overtime
Updated: January 6, 2012 11:56PM
KOUTS — Kouts apparently doesn’t know the word quit.
In a matchup of two of the area’s top small schools, the Class 1A No. 4 Mustangs found themselves down by 12 points early in the third quarter and nine late in the period against 2A No. 4 North Judson.
But instead of rolling over, Kouts mounted a thrilling rally and forced overtime before falling 66-59 Friday night.
“We came out after halftime and said let’s pick it up defensively, get the pressure going and be more physical,” Kouts senior Matt Bradley said. “And that’s what we did. People were saying we were going to get beat by 30 and had no chance. But I knew we could play with these guys.”
Bradley’s long three-pointer with 2:38 left in the fourth quarter gave Kouts its first lead, 55-54, since the game’s early moments. Then, trailing 58-55, the Mustangs tied it when a tipped inbounds ball landed in the hands of Nick Taylor, whose off-balance, leaping three-pointer rattled in at the buzzer.
“That was awesome,” Bradley said.
Judson (7-1), though, outscored Kouts 8-1 in the extra session.
“What I’m proud of is the kids’ composure,” Bluejays coach Phil Shabi said. “They did a real nice job fighting through adversity and showing their resiliency.”
Judson’s 6-foot-7 senior center John Eckert scored a game-high 32 points, 19 in the first half, and grabbed 12 rebounds to pace the Bluejays. Sharpshooter Kendall Hochstedler added 18 points, including four three-pointers.
Judson senior guard Winston Yergler, in his return to Kouts, struggled at times but finished with 12 points, including a pair of free throws and a bucket after a steal in the overtime. Yergler moved to North Judson after his sophomore year after being raised in Kouts and playing for the Mustangs as a freshman.
Mustangs coach Marty Gaff downplayed Yergler’s return.
“Winston is a North Judson kid, and that’s fine,” Gaff said. “We’re happy with the kids we’ve got.”
Bradley scored 18 to lead the Mustangs (7-2), who have lost two straight. Stephen Keller finished with 15, and it was his three-pointer in the second quarter that snapped an 0-for-8 start from behind the arc for Kouts.
“I’m disappointed that we lost,” Gaff said. “But I’m proud of the kids for how hard they played.”
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