PLEASANTON — Rather than fretting over losing a six-point lead in the waning seconds — the last three on a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Pleasanton High’s Joey Morrisey — Marmaton Valley High’s boys simply regrouped and met the challenge.
The Wildcats outscored host Pleasanton 13-5 in overtime to secure a 65-57 win.
The victory is Marmaton Valley’s third in a row, part of a grueling seven-game in 14-day stretch.
“I think we were so used to playing from behind that we didn’t handle the final minutes of regulation that well,” Wildcat head coach Denny Lasley said. “We pushed the ball up the court way too fast and didn’t take care of the ball.”
The game was tightly fought throughout. The teams were deadlocked at 10-10 after one quarter and 14-14 at halftime. Marmaton Valley eked in front 34-33 after three quarters.
They held the lead through most of the fourth period until Morrisey’s three-pointer — the Blu-Jays’ only trey of the game — tied the score.
The Wildcats utilized a stingy defense to limit Pleasanton’s chances in overtime, Lasley said.
Meanwhile, Marmaton Valley hit 7 of 8 free throws in the extra period to secure the win.
Leading the way was Dalton Houk with 23 points, while Cole Becker scored 15. Zach Louk had 10 points, five assists and three steals. Nathan Smart had eight rebounds.
Morrisey wound up with 21 to lead Pleasanton. Reid Hein added 10.
Marmaton Valley hosts Uniontown Monday in another makeup contest postponed from earlier in the month due to snow.
Marmaton Valley (10-4-20-18-13—65) (FG/3-pt): Louk 1/1-5-1-10, Houk 7/2-3-4-23, Hammond 1-2-5-4, Becker 4/2-1-2-15, Carr 0/1-0-1-3, Smart 3-0-4-6. TOTALS: 16/6-15-17-65.
Pleasanton (10-4-19-19-5—57) (FG/3-pt): Morrisey 9/1-0-1-21, Schoenhais 0-1-5-1, T. Coffman 0-0-2-0, R. Hein 4-2-4-10, Schmidt 0-1-2-1, Marshall 3-3-4-9, C. Hein 1-0-0-2, P. Coffman 4-2-2-10, Inman 0-3-3-3. TOTALS: 21/1-12-23-57.
Wildcats beat Jays in OT
