Mountain Crest outlasts Box Elder in overtime, 57-55

Mountain Crest basketball plays against Box Elder on Jan. 8, 2019, in Hyrum, Utah. Mountain Crest won the game 57-55 in overtime in the final seconds of the game. (Megan Nielsen)

Despite being down two starters in overtime, Coach Kevin Anderson’s Mountain Crest Mustangs won their first OT game of the season 57-55 over Box Elder. Mountain Crest got a good measuring stick to close the non-region schedule against Box Elder, who have played every other Region 12 team except Sky View.

Mountain Crest was able to push a three point half time lead to eight, the largest of the game, going in to the final quarter but could not finish off Box Elder. In the first two minutes of the final period the Bees cut it to one point and then tied it at 36 with just over five minutes left. The lead never got larger than three points the rest of the quarter.

Box Elder took the lead back at just under two minutes when Matthew Barber fouled out for Mountain Crest. Tied at 43, the Bees had the ball and were trying to get it down low to sophomore Parker Buchanan, who led the team with 19 points. But Treven Leishman knocked it away and Kordell Welch found Austin Young in the corner for a three that put Mountain Crest up 46-43 with :48 seconds left. After an air ball from Buchanan with :10 seconds left it looked like the Mustangs were going to hold on to win. A tipped inbound pass and off balance three from Ronnie Smith sent the game to overtime.

Marshall Nethercott fouled out in overtime with just over two minutes left but Buchanan only made one of his free throws to cut into a 48-47 Mountain Crest lead. Caleb Malone hit a corner three to tie it at 55 with :16 seconds left and it looked like both teams could be heading to overtime again. Kordell Welch got in to the lane, drove by the basket and banked in a backwards layup with six seconds left to give the Mustangs a two point lead. Reggie Smith got a great look from the corner to win the game but shot it long as Mountain Crest held on to win 57-55.

Young and Leishman led the Mustangs with 15 points a piece and Welch finished with 11, including several crucial assists down the stretch. Buchanan came in averaging over 18 points a game and finished with 19 for the Bees, but second leading scorer Riley Dahlgren didn’t play at all for Box Elder. Mountain Crest has won three of their last four as they start region play at Logan on Friday.

Moutain Crest (4-7)

Box Elder (2-8)

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