Boys Basketball: Skyline knocks off Pioneer in overtime thriller (see WLAA photogallery)
The Skyline boys’ basketball team led Pioneer 15-3 in the first quarter and the host Pioneers spent the rest of Friday evening playing catch up. They eventually caught up on their first shot of the fourth quarter and took a lead with 5 minutes left in regulation. With the game tied, both teams had chances to win it in regulation but came up short and the game headed to overtime.
So, let’s pick it up there – we will get back to regulation later.
Skyline’s Ben Stille got things flying in the right direction for the Eagles with a triple to make it 50-47 early in the OT. Reed Yuhas scored on a nice running shot to bring the Pioneers to within 50-49 with still plenty of time on the clock.
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The Eagles got the ball under the Pioneer basket and ran a perfect set play as Sam Koelling’s field goal pushed Skyline’s lead to 52-49 with 36 seconds left in overtime. Pioneer had a good look on a three-pointer from the corner but the shot missed and Skyline rebounded.
It looked like Stille had put the game away with a dunk but Pioneer was called for a foul before the senior got to the rim. Stille missed the front end of a one-and-one giving Pioneer another shot, which they couldn’t convert at the other end.
The Eagles flew off with a 52-49 win over Pioneer in an early season SEC showdown between city rivals.
Koelling (three steals and four rebounds) and Jayden Potts (three steals and three rebounds) each scored 10 points to lead Skyline. Pete Roebuck had nine points, Ish Abdul Aziz had eight points and five assists, Stille had seven points and three rebounds and DA Ellerson had six points.
Pioneer was led in scoring by Nate Freisthler with 13 points and Antonio Cristian with 11 points.
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Skyline got off to a very strong start, especially defensively. A jumper by Potts gave the visitors a 7-0 lead, a basket inside by Koelling made it 9-1 and then a triple by Abdul Aziz gave the Eagles a 12-1 lead with 3:09 left in the first quarter. Another triple by Abdul Aziz made it 15-3. Pioneer scored its first field goal of the game with 2:15 left in the quarter to cut the deficit to 15-5.
A triple by Pioneer’s Miles Powell cut the lead to 18-11 and that’s how the first quarter ended.
In the second quarter, a layup by Freisthler and a jumper by Nelson Sompa brought Pioneer to within 23-18. But Ellerson and Roebuck knocked down three-pointers and the lead was back to 29-20. Pioneer scored the last two baskets of the first half to cut the deficit to 29-24 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Koelling scored to start the quarter to build a 31-24 lead and then Skyline went cold, only converting one more FG in the period. Pioneer played ball control offense and had some longer possessions and ended up winning the third quarter 8-6 and trailed by just three, 35-32, heading into the fourth quarter.
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The game would be back and forth with each team making big shots down the stretch. Skyline got two big triples from Roebuck and four more points from Potts. Six players for Pioneer scored in the fourth quarter.
Pioneer took a 45-42 lead with a short jump shot by Yuhas, but Skyline’s Lewis knocked down a triple to tie the game at 45-45 with 2:05 left to play.
Sompa converted two free throws to give Pioneer a 47-45 lead with 1:17 left in the game. Potts scored inside to tie the game at 47-47 with 1 minute left. Pioneer would then hold the ball looking to take the last shot. Stille blocked a shot with 7 seven seconds left, grabbed the ball and then just missed a shot at the buzzer that would have won it in regulation.
It was on to overtime.
