On Friday night Altamont and Tuscola battled in a game for the ages, as both teams left it all out on the floor. Both teams were searching for a trip to Carbondale on Monday night and it would ultimately be Tuscola coming up with big shots in the second half and in the overtimes to take home the championship.
Altamont started the game off great, Avery Jahraus got the scoring started with a short shot in the lane to make it 2-0. After a couple blocks by Mason Robinson on defense, Robinson would knock down a three and Altamont had the early 9-3 lead. Altamont was a flying around on defense blocking shots left and right with Robinson, Jahraus and Eric Kollmann swatting away shots. Jahraus would make a couple of threes and have eight in the opening quarter. Dillan Elam also would have six in the opening quarter, as Altamont jumped out to the 17-6 lead after one.
For Tuscola Jordan Quinn came up huge all night and Quinn carried the Warriors in the first half scoring ten with a couple of threes. Altamont would push the lead up to eight on an and one opportunity for Jared Hammer to make it 21-13. A Eli Miller layup would push the lead up to double digits 23-13. A couple of Kaidyn Miller buckets increased the Indians lead to 27-13 at the half.
In the third Altamont started the half out well as Robinson and Hammer connected on baskets to make it 31-15. Then the come back would begin for Tuscola as they started to find their rhythm from beyond the arc.
The Warriors would go on a 17-4 run to eventually take the lead. Josiah Hortin, Quinn and Chris Boyd made threes to make it 31-25, to force Coach Niebrugge to take a time out. Off the timeout Kam Sweetnam would make another three to cut the lead to just three, 31-28 with three and half minutes to go in the third. Boyd would later make a couple of free throws to give Tuscola the 32-31 lead. With time running down in the quarter Robinson would grab an offensive rebound and be fouled with no time remaining. Robinson would knock down both free throws to give Altamont the lead back 33-32 entering the fourth.
To bein the fourth the Warriors jumped out to the four point lead with a deep three from Hortin. Indians would get back into it with a Robinson jumper and Jahraus would make a couple of free throws to tie the game at 37.
Altamont would retake control for the moment and grab the lead a little while later on a big three from Robinson, putting the Indians up 41-39. A couple of free throws by Elam made it 44-39 with about two minutes left. Not too much later Hammer would go one for two from the line to make it a 46-41 lead for the Indians.
With time winding down there was some controversy and confusion as Quinn made a three pointer to tie the game. Or so Tuscola thought. But the scoreboard showed it was only a two making it 46-45. With Tuscola on defense thinking it was tied the Warriors were just going to let the possession play out. While Altamont thinking they were up by one held on to the ball waiting for the foul that eventually came .
Then the score was confirmed to be tied but the foul sent Elam to line. The old saying goes “Ball don’t lie” and Elam missed both free throws. Altamont did get he rebound with an out of bounds play coming for the potential win. A Robinson baseline jumper was off and the game went into tOT tied 46-46.
Free basketball!
In the first extra session Hammer would make a couple of free throws and a Robinson two would make the lead 50-46 in favor of Altamont. Later on Quinn would tie the game at 50 with another three, as we would need another OT to decide this one.
In the second overtime both teams would trade leads. Jahraus with a three would give Altamont the lead 53-52. Sweetnam would make two free throws to give Tuscola the lead back 55-54. Later on a Robinson jumper would have the Indians on top 57-55. But not to long later Sweetnam would make two more free throws to tie the game at 57. That score would hold and we would go to a third overtime.
Altamont would take control early in the third extra period going on a 6-0 run, getting the lead back to 63-57. But as they did the entire night Tuscola would battle back. Back to back threes from Sweetnam and Quinn would tie the game at 63-63 to force yet another overtime.
The teams would again go back and fourth but Tuscola begin to take control with a two pointer by Quinn, making it 68-66 in favor of the Warriors. Some more free throws by Quinn and Sweetnam would swell the lead up to 71-66. Some critical moments for Altamont were on three straight possessions with the floor being slippery all night, Robinson would get called for traveling. Quinn on his birthday no less would finish with 33 points and Tuscola would eventually out last Altamont 72-68 in four overtimes to win the sectional championship
Instant classic!!
Tuscola improves to 29-6 on the season and win their first sectional championship since 2005.
The win is extra sweet not only on Jordan birthday but last year the Warriors came up short in the sectional championship after a long distance shot was made by Macon Meridian. Tuscola advances to Monday’s Carbondale Super Sectional to take on Mounds Merdian.
Altamont magical and history making season comes to a heartbreaking end at 29-5 on the season.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | |
| Tuscola | 6 | 7 | 19 | 14 | 26 |
| Altamont | 17 | 10 | 6 | 13 | 22 |
Altamont Points
Robinson 25, Elam 15, Jahraus 12, Hammer 8, Kaidyn Miller 4, Kollman 2, Eli Miller 2.
Tuscola Points
Quinn 33, Swwetnam 15, Hortin 12, Boyd 7, James 5
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