MINDEN - After the Douglas boys' basketball team raced out to a 20-10 lead through the first quarter at home against Galena Tuesday night, it appeared the Tigers were well on their way to clinching their first league title since 1996-97.
Galena, currently in second place, put those plans on hold and kept their own league title hopes alive by sneaking away with a 59-58 win in overtime.
The game played out like a heavyweight fight, with Galena methodically chipping away at the Douglas lead, never scoring any more than two consecutive baskets in the game, but winning every quarter except the first.
It was each team's best player that carried the bulk of the scoring as Douglas' Hunter Myers poured in 29 points and Galena's Caleb Wood went for a game-high 31 with six 3-pointers.
"It was a playoff atmosphere again and Galena did a great job," Douglas coach Corey Thacker said. "They had a great gameplan and they knocked down shots to stay in it early on. Then Caleb got hot in the second half and that got to us."
Douglas opened up a nice 20-8 lead in the first quarter with an 11-2 run before Wood closed it to 20-10 on a 15-foot jump shot before the quarter ended.
The Tigers carried a 35-27 lead into halftime and then broke out on a 6-2 run to open the third to stretch the score to 41-29.
Wood answered with a 3-pointer, though, followed on the next trip by a basket from Tanner Chatterly. The 3-pointer coupled with a two turned into a trend with Galena down the stretch as Wood later hit another 3-pointer followed by a 10-footer of his own to tie the game up at 44 with 6:13 left.
Douglas briefly regained the lead on a putback from Myers, but EJ Poulsen re-tied the game on the next trip and Wood followed with another 3-pointer for the Grizzlies' first lead of the night.
Douglas never regained the lead, but managed to tie the game on a pair of Myers free throws with 1:57 left in regulation.
Neither team managed a solid shot through the remainder.
Galena flustered Douglas in the second half with a man-to-man defense that forced a number of costly turnovers late in the game.
"We didn't take care of the ball," Thacker said. "We had a bunch of turnovers late. We had 17 in the game and with the pressure they were showing us, that hurt us."
Wood hit yet another 3-pointer to open the extra period, but Connor Hughes drew Douglas back to within one on the Tigers' next trip. Poulson pumped the lead back up to three at 58-55 on the next trip down the floor.
Hughes knocked down a pair of free throws with 2:14 left and Myers hit another at 1:23 to tie the game at 58.
Galena played for the final shot from there, but Myers intercepted a pass to give Douglas possession with 1:02 left. Douglas immediately turned the ball back over, though, and Galena held for the last shot again, this time draining the clock to 1.2 seconds before Wood was fouled while preparing to shoot.
He hit the front end of a one-and-one and Douglas didn't manage a final shot as Galena grabbed the win.
VARSITY GIRLS
Galena stops Tigers
MINDEN - Douglas fell to Galena 48-41, making a run at the Grizzlies late after falling behind 35-26.
Cora Moody had 11 points and Desiree Cage and Ebony Cleveland each had nine. Tia Lyons added seven.
JV BASKETBALL
Carson JVs rally for win
Carson High's JV boys basketball team overcame a 14-point first-quarter deficit to knock off Bishop Manogue 51-46 Tuesday night at Morse Burley Gym.
The Senators outscored Manogue 31-15 in the second half to secure the win.
Alan Cohen led the offense with 16, 12 in the second half. Andy Cooper added 12 and Gehrig Tucker finished with seven, five of those in the second half.
Carson hosts Galena Thursday at 3 p.m.
Carson wins, improves to 20-4
Gina Peacock and Natali Salas scored 12 points apiece to lead the Senators to an easy 49-20 win over Manogue Tuesday night.
Skye Simpson chipped in seven points for Carson.
CHS frosh loses
RENO - Bishop Manogue knocked off Carson 46-44 Tuesday in a Sierra League game. Carson's Cameron Price scored 20 and Nolan Shine had eight.
Carson freshmen win
RENO - Maddie Preton scored 14 and Michelle Perry added 11 to lead Carson to a 37-32 win over Manogue.
Arlette Marsical was praised for her defensive play by coach Jim Bean.
Carson improved to 13-1 in league and 19-3 overall.
