GOVS OUTLAST MITCHELL IN DOUBLE OT

PIERRE, S.D. — In a game that reminded long-time Pierre basketball fans of classic battles with Mitchell in the past, the Governors won a double-overtime thriller Friday night at Riggs High Gym, 51-48. Defense ruled the game almost throughout, as the game was tied at 17 at halftime, and at 38 at the end of regulation. Mitchell held a 38-32 advantage in the final minute of the fourth quarter, but Caiden Ahartz banked in a desperation 3-pointer to beat the shot clock and cut the deficit in half at 38-35. Then after a defensive stop, a play was drawn up, and Corde Austin hit a game-tying trey from the right wing with six seconds to go. A scooping lay-up attempt by the Kernels fell away at the buzzer, and the capacity crowd was treated to extra basketball on Senior Night. Lincoln Dilges and Jerren Deal hit shots early in the first overtime to get Pierre off to a good start, but the Kernels countered and evened it up at 44 apiece to force a second extra frame. This time it was the Kernels who scored first, but eventually took a 48-47 lead on an Owen Raml 3-point play. The Governors responded with a pair of Cooper Terwilliger free throws for a 49-48 edge and then sealed the deal with two more freebies from Logan Witte. A last-ditch three from Colton Smith missed the mark, and the Governors came away with their biggest win of the season to improve to 6-11. Both teams battled hard in a physical match-up, but Pierre ultimately won the game at the free throw line, going 10 of 12 in the fourth quarter and overtime periods, while Mitchell struggled from the stripe in crunch time. Ahartz scored 14 to lead Pierre, while Austin and Dilges netted 12 each. Smith led the Kernels with 16 and Raml 14 in the loss, as Mitchell fell to 8-9. Pierre will host Sioux Falls Jefferson next on Tuesday night.