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PREP BOYS BASKETBALL: Falcons edge Dragons in overtime, 74-70

Photo by Jake Przytarski Red Rock Central’s Luke Willhite looks to drive past an Adrian/Ellsworth defender during their game on Friday. The Falcons defeated the Dragons 74-70 in overtime.

LAMBERTON — Led by four different players in double-figures, the Red Rock Central boys basketball team snapped its five-game losing skid with a 74-70 overtime win over Adrian/Ellsworth on Friday at home. The victory moves the Falcons to 5-10 in Red Rock conference play and 6-18 overall.

The visiting Dragons spent the majority of the opening half playing from behind but managed to take a brief 4-0 lead minutes into the contest after opening the scoring with a pair of unanswered baskets. RRC’s response came swiftly from its three of its four double-digit scorers in Mason Gode, Luke Willhite and Justin Klabunde who all knocked down shots to guide the Falcons to a 7-4 advantage.

After a made three-pointer by Sam Helmer pushed RRC’s lead to 12-7, the Falcons remained in the driver’s set down the stretch of the first half with Dominik Smith leading the way by pouring in nine points — all from three-pointers — to make it 28-20. The Dragons went on to close the gap down the stretch, but still trailed the Falcons by five at the break at 30-25.

When play continued for the second half, neither team could create any separation on the scoreboard as both offenses went shot for shot all the way to the end with the Dragons holding a slim-advantage at 60-59 in the waning seconds of the contest. RRC’s Gode provided the late-game heroics for the Falcons by coming down with a rebound and drawing a foul where went to the line to shoot two. Gode went on to make one of his two free-throw attempts to force overtime with the score knotted up at 60 apiece.

In the extra frame, the Falcons outscored the Dragons 14-10 as Willhite led the way with seven points to help push RRC past A/E.

Willhite and Jonah Hansen both finished the game with 13 points, while Gode put together a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Smith paced all RRC scorers with 17 points and added four assists. Klabunde poured in eight points and eight rebounds for the Falcons.

Red Rock Central will wrap up its regular season schedule on Monday when the team hosts Mountain Lake Area/Comfrey for a 7:30 p.m. conference matchup. MLA/C currently ranks second in the conference standings with a record of 12-2 and 21-3 overall.

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