NEW KNOXVILLE – Multiple lead changes and ties in the final minutes of Saturday night’s non-league battle between New Knoxville and Fort Jennings ended in dramatic fashion when a Musketeers game winning three point attempt bounced off the rim and secured a 42-40 victory for the host Rangers.
Trailing 39-37 with under :45 remaining in the game the Rangers tied the game and found themselves with a chance to take a lead on a free throw by senior Sammy Anspach. Perhaps fortunately for New Knoxville the shot was missed on the and-one attempt but fell off the rim perfectly for teammate Patrick Covert who scooped and tossed in a shot with :38 remaining to put the Rangers on top by two.
After a split on free throws by junior Carson Bierlein gave the hosts a 42-40 advantage the Musketeers moved across mid court and took a timeout to draw up the games final play.
Out of the timeout the Musketeers targeted senior Evan Hoersten on the right ring who pulled up past a defender and was unable to have a shot fall inside the basket as the buzzer sounded.
New Knoxville holds off a final charge from Fort Jennings and survives for a 42-40 win. pic.twitter.com/zpJhi0JKY1
— Michael Hirn (@MichaelHirnPBP) January 24, 2021
Asked about the moment after the game New Knoxville coach Cole Fischbach replied “Coming off of last night’s battle was tough and our guys fought through some tired legs and minds but found a way to persevere and make the big time plays we needed. It’s nice to see the fight these guys put on the floor every day and for it to finally pay off.”
Early in the first quarter each team traded mini runs and the lead on their offensive possessions that finished with the Musketeers leading 12-9 at the buzzer behind a strong five points from junior post Jon Grote.
New Knoxville pulled even at 14-14 with 5:26 to go in the second period on the only make of the game for Ryland Dyrness. On their ensuing possession the Musketeers regained the upper hand on an Evan Hoersten triple for what would be the final time in the half.
Junior Max Henschen’s personal six point run on back to back makes from beyond the arc gave the advantage back to New Knoxville who took a 24-17 lead into the halftime stoppage.
Multiple baskets by Nick Trentman and a three pointer from Cody Horstman cut into the lead for Fort Jennings to 34-33 with just :29 left in the third and set the stage for a big fourth quarter finish inside “The Barn” as it is affectionately known in New Knoxville.
Fort Jennings falls to 3-8 on the season and has now dropped three games in a row. The Musketeers who were led in scoring by Evan Hoersten with 11 and Nick Trentman with 10 will next be in action on Tuesday night when they travel to Ayersville before dipping into Putnam County League play on Friday at Miller City.
New Knoxville (5-9) was paced by Sammy Anspach’s 14 and will next travel to Rockford on Friday for a Midwest Athletic Conference showdown with Parkway.
Scoring:
New Knoxville (42):
Max Henschen 6
Ryland Dyrness 3
Patrick Covert 9
Carson Bierlein 10
Sammy Anspach 14
FT: 5/9
3PT: 5 (Henschen 2, Bierlein, Dyrness, Covert)
TO: 6
Ft. Jennings (40):
Nick Trentman 10
Evan Hoersten 11
Zach Schulte 5
Jon Grote 9
Cody Horstman 5
FT: 4/8
3PT: 4 (Trentman, Hoersten, Schulte, Horstman)
TO: 12
JV: 43-26 Fort Jennings