In a rematch of the opening-round overtime battle between Big Timber and Loyola Sacred Heart, the Rams took the reigns much earlier.
Loyola started the game on a 17-3 run and finished strong by sinking 16-of-18 free throws in the fourth quarter as they took a 67-55 win and the third place Class B trophy home for the second straight year.
It wasn’t the award his team came for, but Scott Anderson and his Rams were in good spirits none the less.
“We’ll make some T-shirts up that say bronze or three-peat,” Anderson laughed. “We’re proud of it, but our goal was first place. We’re going to shoot for that again next year.”
The Rams’ success from the charity stripe was a sight for Anderson’s sore eyes, considering Loyola missed 31 free throws in its previous two contests.
“Missing free throws was really costing us,” Anderson said. “We made a joke tonight, saying, ‘Let’s see if we can miss 30.’ The kids relaxed and I think that made a difference.”
It couldn’t have been much more frustrating for Big Timber, which did a good job of defending the beefier Rams when the clock was ticking, holding them to 40 percent shooting.
But as well as the Herders defended, “you can’t contest shots from the free throw line,” said Big Timber coach Kent Morgan. “That’s where they had the advantage tonight.”
And while they watched helplessly as Loyola shored up its free throw shooting, the Herders struggled to knocked down shots, finishing 30 percent from the field.
A packed-in 2-3 zone, usually vulnerable to good shooting teams like the Herders, frustrated Big Timber more than expected.
“The way they play that zone takes away our penetration,” said senior point guard Mitch Buerkle, who finished 6-of-15 on the way to 15 points. “Then we don’t get as good of looks. We didn’t rise to the challenge tonight.”
Despite never tasting the lead, Big Timber battled within a point several times.
Four points from senior Levi Evjene and a 3-pointer from fellow senior Josh Graham, who led the Herders with 22, capped an 11-2 run and brought the score to 25-24 in favor of the Rams with 2:30 to play until the half.
Then back-to-back 3-pointers from Graham and Buerkle cut the Ram lead to 53-51 with 4:12 to play in the fourth. Both came after carry calls on Loyola’s Peter Shaughnessey.
And with 3:30 to play, senior Cole Broadus sank one of two free throws to cut the lead to one once again.
But a foul with the Rams in the bonus allowed Carter Bermingham to sink two free throws to make it 55-52 Loyola with three minutes to play.
The Herders would not inch closer after that. But it would hardly deter from a season that saw Big Timber take its first district title in more than a decade and finished with the Herders playing on a Saturday night at the state tournament for the first time since early 1980s.
“We’ve had a great, great year. Our kids left it all out on the floor and they have nothing to hang their heads about,” Morgan said. “They’ll remember this for the rest of their lives.”
“It’s been a heck of a ride,” Buerkle said. “I really hope this has laid a foundation. We’ve got great coaches and great kids underneath us.”.
Loyola 67, Big Timber 55
Big Timber 10 16 12 17 n 55
Loyola 19 8 17 23 n 67
Big Timber n Levi Evjene 3-13 0-0 6, Mitch Buerkle 6-15 0-2 15, Josh Graham 8-16 1-1 22, Cole Broadus 1-10 1-2 3, Brandon Arlian 2-8 1-2 5, Michael Lehman 0-0 0-0 0, Brian Brost 0-0 0-0 0, Chase Stevens 0-2 0-0 0, Brian Hogemark 0-0 0-0 0, Charlie Mack 1-4 2-2 4. Totals 21-68 5-9 55.
Loyola n Carter Bermingham 0-1 3-4 3, Peter Shaughnessey 3-8 4-4 10, Caleb DeGroot 4-6 3-5 11, Everett Johnston 5-11 10-10 21, Zach Balcom 3-10 9-10 16, Pat Jensen 0-0 0-0 0, Billy Chilton 0-2 0-0 0, Mike Brown 1-1 0-0 2, Mike Breza 1-2 0-0 2, Cade Cross 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 18-45 29-33 67.
3-point goals n Big Timber 8-26 (Graham 5-11), Loyola 2-10 (Johnston 1-2, Balcom 1-5). Total fouls n Big Timber 23, Loyola 12. Fouled out n Evjene, Broadus. Rebounds n Big Timber 27 (Buerkle 9), Loyola 30 (Balcom 12). Turnovers n Big Timber 15, Loyola 15.
