Douglas boys escape Galena with an overtime win

RENO - The Galena boys' basketball team certainly knows how to play to its strengths.

The Grizzlies, who over the years have made a living off of strong defense and a motion offense that at times seems it might grind groove marks into the gym floor, stayed within themselves and gave Douglas everything it could handle Tuesday night before the Tigers eventually pulled away with a 46-39 win in overtime.

Even with the extra period, it was one of Douglas' lowest scoring outputs of the season. The Grizzlies mixed up its zone and press defenses to keep the Tigers out of rhythm. It worked, to the extent that Douglas only managed field goals on consecutive trips down the floor at three different spots in the game -- once in the first quarter, once in the third and once in overtime.

"That's just Galena basketball," Douglas coach Corey Thacker said. "They want to run their sets and control the pace of the game. They did that very well tonight. They did a good job of mixing it up on defense and we were too tentative against it.

"It just seemed like we were all off a little bit."

The Tigers compensated, though, with a solid night at the free throw line - 11-of-15 including 4-for-4 from senior Connor Hughes in the final minute of overtime to seal the win - and baskets in crucial situations.

The most notable play also came from Hughes with Douglas trailing 38-35 with 2:49 left in regulation.

Hughes received the ball deep behind the arc and hit a clutch 3-pointer to tie the game and steal the momentum away from the Grizzlies.

"The kids had to respond and Connor hit a big shot for us," Thacker said. "That was huge."

Galena then ran nearly a minute and a half off the clock and appeared ready to play for the final shot before the Tigers grabbed the ball back with 1:08 left.

Douglas quickly turned the ball back over and Galena settled into its motion delay, working the ball around the arc again trying to hold for the final shot.

The shot came with less than 10 seconds left and it was partially deflected. Douglas' Hunter Myers jumped up to grab the errant shot and was fouled in the process.

"The kids didn't panic," Thacker said. "They stayed solid and didn't foul. It was a good stretch of defense."

While the free throw missed, Galena couldn't muster a final shot and the game went into overtime.

Myers led the period off with a basket and Nick Maestretti extended the lead to 42-38 on a baseline drive with 2:45 remaining.

After a free throw from Galena's Blaine Shively cut the deficit to 42-39 with 1:06 left, Hughes sealed the win with his four free throws down the stretch.

Myers led the Tigers with 13 points while Hughes and Jake Tessmann each had nine.

Tessmann was particularly key in the third quarter when he scored nine of the Tigers' 11 points.

Maestretti finished with five, Trevor Shaffer had four and Nate VonAhsen, James Herrick and Michael Nolting each scored two.

Galena got 13 points from Shively.

GIRLS

The Tigers had one of their best offensive efforts of the year come up short as Galena held on for a 56-50 win.

Douglas stayed close with the Grizzlies throughout the first half, trailing 22-20 at halftime, and then raced ahead to a 34-28 lead on an impressive 7-2 run late in the third quarter.

The Grizzles came back with the help of a 10-2 fourth-quarter run and pushed ahead for the overtime win.

Douglas had the final shot in regulation, but it glanced off the left backboard.

"We gave up 56 points, that's just too many for us," Douglas coach Werner Christen said. "We have to hold teams in the 30s.

"Offensively, we had a much better night. It was very encouraging. The guards are really starting to attack and it's translating to more points and better opportunities."

Douglas also had one of its best games defending the interior, allowing only eight points from Galena's post players. Galena countered with eight 3-pointers, though.

Douglas also went just 4-of-11 from the free-throw line, which played into the final difference.

"We needed to hold it together better on the perimeter and we missed some easy shots," Christen said. "We missed some free throws too. That cost us down the stretch."

Tia Lyons continued to come on strong, leading the Tigers with 12 points. Ebony Cleveland scored 10, Cora Moody and Desiree Cage each had eight, Amanda Wartgow had six, Diana Regalado had four and Erika Munoz finished with two.

Taylor Schaller led Galena with 21 points.