— By Kyle Taylor
CNHI News Service
NORMAN – It was the Hulbert Riders’ first trip to the state tournament since 1977, they came in having won their last 11 of 12 game and for a brief moment in the first half looked to be too much for the Dale Pirates.
But Dale wouldn’t go away, the No. 8 Riders couldn’t hit and what transpired instead was a seesaw battle from beginning to end which ended with a 71-69 Pirates’ victory in overtime.
Late in the fourth quarter with Hulbert trailing 59-56 Dillon Brown tried to tie it up with a 3-pointer of his own but it clanked off the iron.
Fortunately senior Richard Henson came away with the crucial rebound, dribbled it behind the 3-point line and dropped in the game tying three with five seconds to go which led to the overtime period.
In the extra period Hulbert (25-4) would grab the early lead at 61-59 behind Dustin Shade’s two free throws but Dale’s Jimmy Doolin would tie with his own free throws with 2:56 remaining.
The No. 10 Pirates (23-6) eventually clung to a 67-63 lead with 45 seconds but Brown came up big this time knocking down the three to inch closer at 67-66.
After two free throws put Dale up 69-66 the Pirates inbounded the ball and just like earlier the senior Brown drained the 3-point basket to tie it at 69-69 with 10 seconds to go.
The Pirates’ Doolin would then take the inbound coast to coast, put up a shot in the lane, miss it but got the foul called. That foul went against Brown, knocking him out of the contest with 3.4 seconds left.
After Doolin nailed both free throws to put the Pirates ahead 71-69 and Hulbert was unable to get a shot off as time expired, thus ending their season.
For Hulbert coach Rhett Bynum he was disappointed but enjoyed the season from beginning to end.
“It’s devastating for this group of young men, it’s crushing for me,” he said. “But a coach can’t ask any more from what this team gave me this year. From that perspective we got too play until the last weekend.”
Brown finished with 22 points for the Riders. Terrance Blue dropped in 13 and Skyler Heaton added 10. Doolin led Dale with 26 points.
