Luke Allen had a turbulent end of regulation in Calvary Lutheran's game against Belle.
Allen's layup gave the Lions a 68-66 advantage with three seconds left before he fouled Belle's Skylar Smith, who made both free throws to send the game to overtime Thursday at Calvary Lutheran. The Lions still held on in overtime to get their first win, 84-75.
Prior to Allen's layup, Colin Bernskoetter hit a 3-point shot to tie the game at 66.
"Talk about a rollercoaster," Calvary Lutheran head coach Mark Buffington said. "We did everything we wanted to do, the kids were in the play, executed the play, got a shot and tied it up. Fortunately we got the turnover, got it back. At that time it was going to be overtime or we were going to win.
"We were able to get the lead, and get the big shot there and of course we were telling the kids not to foul, not to foul, and the emotion of the moment it's hard. So it wasn't like he was one of those thing where he got too close and the kid made both free throws, give him credit."
After going from snagging a late lead to watching it vanish in three seconds of regulation, Buffington wanted to keep his team's confidence up heading into overtime. He told the Lions to just play their game and have fun.
"I was proud of the way we came out in overtime, we could have let the wind come out of the sails but didn't," Buffington said. "I was hoping if we get a lead they would probably pull it out, and we were able to."
The Lions did get an early lead that was extended when Alex Flanigan drew a foul in overtime while attempting a 3-pointer. Belle was also hit with also hit with a technical foul after one of its players said something to a referee that the official did not approve of on the play.
Flanigan hit all five shots and put the game out of reach. Buffington considered putting Bernskoetter in to shoot the technical foul shots, but left Flanigan in to shoot all five when he made the first three. Bernskoetter and Keyron January each topped 20 points for the Lions.
January also led the team in assists with four. Bernskoetter and Ray Eickmeyer tied for the team lead in rebounds with five each. Jimmie Wehmeyer had six blocks and January finished with three steals.
Thursday's game was Calvary Lutheran's home opener. The Lions will look to carry this momentum into its game next Thursday at Tuscumbia.
"It's big for our kids," Buffington said. "We're 0-3 coming into the night and Belle's always got a good team and they're always going to play physical and we knew it would be a tough game so it was great to get off the snide after not winning the first three. Good confidence builder."