SHERMAN forward Kyle Fields (25) gets in a shoving match with Horizon Christian’s Mason Bloomster, while his teammates Jared Davis (0) and Ryan Aldrich (22) converge on the action during the first quarter of Saturday’s Big Sky Conference matchup in Moro. The No. 1-ranked Horizon Hawks were outscored 29-20 in the fourth quarter, but managed to hold on to a 65-60 road win.
SHERMAN forward Kyle Fields (25) gets in a shoving match with Horizon Christian’s Mason Bloomster, while his teammates Jared Davis (0) and Ryan Aldrich (22) converge on the action during the first quarter of Saturday’s Big Sky Conference matchup in Moro. The No. 1-ranked Horizon Hawks were outscored 29-20 in the fourth quarter, but managed to hold on to a 65-60 road win.
The Sherman Huskies fell behind by as much as 15 points in the fourth quarter and rallied to within four points late, but No. 1-ranked Horizon Christian held on for a 65-60 win Saturday in Big Sky Conference hoops play in Moro.
“It was a great playoff atmosphere tonight,” said Sherman head coach Bill Blevins. “Both crowds were into it, but the more experienced team came through.”
In the fourth quarter, where Sherman outscored Horizon 29-20, Kyle Fields added a long ball and Max Martin hit three 3-pointers, including shots on back-to-back possessions to make it a 60-56 score with one minute and 24 seconds left in regulation.
Horizon Christian center Mason Bloomster then missed a front-end free throw with 1:14 left and fouled a Husky player on the rebound attempt, his fifth.
With a chance to make it a one possession game, the Huskies could not take advantage, as a front-end free throw miss gave the ball back to Horizon.
In the final 42 seconds, the Hawks hit 5 of 6 free throws, the last one coming from Wesley Johnston with 7.9 left on the clock to run the score to 65-60.
Both teams battled to a 12-all draw in a contentious opening quarter that saw a skirmish at midcourt, as some pushing and shoving led to technical fouls called on each team.
The three officials then warned both groups that any other altercations would result in ejections.
Horizon Christian (16-3 overall, 8-0 league) worked a 16-12 split in the second quarter to lead 28-24 at the half and then padded their lead with a 16-7 run in the third quarter.
Jared Davis hit a fall away jumper and Johnston hit an inside shot to move the Hawks ahead 44-31 entering the fourth period.
Horizon’s RJ Hicks hit a running jumper to give Horizon its largest lead of the game, 53-38 with 4:48 left in the fourth frame.
From that point, the Huskies (13-4, 6-3) went on an 18-7 run in a span of three minutes to creep to within a 60-56 deficit.
“The third quarter was our demise,” Blevins added. “We shot poorly and took uncharacteristic shots. I am proud of our effort in the fourth quarter to make a strong comeback.”
Overall, the Huskies sank 19 field goals, seven from 3-point territory and they added a 15 for 23 rate from the free throw line, 7 of 12 in the second half.
Martin buried five long balls for his team-leading 25 points, Fields tacked on 13 and Isaiah Coles was good for 11 points.
Jacob Justesen dropped six points and Austin Kaseberg, who battled foul troubles all night, ended up with five points.
The Hawks hit on 22 field goals and went 16 of 21 from the line, as the duo of Davis (22 points) and Bloomster (21 points) combined for 43 points.
With five games left before districts, the Huskies are the No. 3 seed, one game ahead of South Wasco County (9-8, 5-4).
Sherman heads to Maupin for a league tilt at 7 p.m. Friday.
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