LOOMIS – It was nearly an incredible come-from-behind upset bid by the Sumner-Eddyville-Miller Mustangs, but Loomis prevailed to earn the D2-8 Sub-district title on Thursday night at home. Click here to listen to the broadcast.
Loomis entered the night with 20 wins under their belt and a guarantee at at a District Final matchup. SEM was not as fortunate, with only 11 wins on the season and sitting at #15 in Class D2 power points, the Mustangs would likely need a win to continue their season. Both teams had earned their way to the D2-8 Sub-district final by winning in the second round of the tournament: Loomis earning a 75-36 victory over Wilcox-Hildreth and SEM downing Pleasanton 63-54.
As the game started, SEM was able to win the opening tip and open the scoring with a lay-in inside from senior Carson Rohde. Loomis gave the ball back to the Mustangs on the next possession after a travel call. Loomis stole the possession back as Shay Swanson found Quinn Johnson underneath for an easy two, tying the game up. Back and forth the teams went in the first quarter, as Loomis was looking for their trademark three-pointer to fall but couldn’t get the right rhythm from downtown in the first half. Johnson, however, was explosive as he carried the Wolves to 13 of their opening quarter 15 points. SEM was more balanced offensively, but Loomis clamped down defensively at the end of the first quarter as the Wolves led 15-11.
SEM would not back down starting the second quarter, as the Mustangs found a jumper from Jayson Guthard, and both Eggleston’s (Noah, Kellen) added four points each in the quarter. Unfortunately for SEM, Loomis began to find scoring outside of Johnson as the Wolves opened up the floor finding Shay Swanson some room to operate. Swanson was aggressive on the drive and would hit contact on every possession, sending him to the free throw line knocking down 2 and adding another lay-in as well in the quarter. The attacks by Swanson and Johnson opened up opportunities for the deep shot as Aiden Perry knocked down a triple, while Clay Meyer and Jackson Lauby both sneaked on baseline drives to earn two each. Loomis’ big quarter found the Wolves comfortably ahead 36-22 entering halftime.
The relaxed Wolves came out hot in the third quarter, answering any buckets coming from SEM as Loomis extended their lead to as much as 17 points after a three pointer from Lovitt. The Mustangs slowly chipped away at the lead, as Loomis was scoreless for a long stretch of the end of the third quarter while SEM went on a 14-0 run that ended with Loomis’ Quinn Johnson knocking down free throws. SEM added another 2 prior to the end of the quarter, and the fourth quarter promised a great finish as Loomis led 43-38 at the end of the third.
After back-to-back steals from in the opening minute for both sides, Aiden Lovitt ripped down a three pointer in the corner extending the Loomis lead. After the triple, Loomis went cold while SEM found success inside with Rohde as he added another six points in the fourth. The outside shot for SEM opened up as well, as the first three pointers of the contest finally connected from Creyton Line for the Mustangs, banging two triples and taking the lead on his second. Lovitt calmly added his own three pointer to bring the game within a single point. Loomis and SEM traded points until the Wolves tied the contest up at 52 and had a chance to win, but failed to convert on the missed three pointer. A prayer three-quarter-court shot hit the front rim on a miss from SEM, and this game headed into overtime locked in at 52.
In a chippy and scrappy overtime period, Loomis attacked and drew fouls from the Mustangs scoring 4 free throws, three from Johnson, while holding off a late rally by SEM after Rohde added another lay-in. The key play in the added period was the Mustangs’ Rohde using a spin move inside, forcing a tie up with Johnson in which Rohde looked to escape and knock down a shot, but instead a jump ball was called and gave the ball back to Loomis. The Wolves earned every bit of the win, finishing with a 56-54 victory en route to the Class D2 Sub-District 8 title.
The Wolves earn win 21 on the season. Loomis had contributions from Johnson with 26 points, 13 added by Lovitt, 7 points by Swanson, 4 points tallied by Meyer, 3 added by Perry, and 2 by Blincow. Loomis faces Potter-Dix in the District Final round on Saturday.
SEM falls to 11-8 as their season comes to a close on the road. The Mustangs had contributions from Rohde and Kellen Eggleston with 14 points, Line had 11 points, 9 points added by Guthard, and 6 points tallied by Noah Eggleston. The loss pushed SEM out of District Final contention.
The Loomis/Potter-Dix matchup can be heard on KUVR Saturday with pregame set for 2:45 PM. The contest will be held at a neutral site in Brady.
