Miller City 48 Tinora 45

MILLER CITY – Tinora’s Luke Harris hit a three pointer 20 second into the game, giving the Rams an early 3-0 lead. The Rams would hold that lead until the 5:30 mark of the third quarter.
Harris would explode for 12 opening quarter points, and lead all scorers with 20 by games end.

Unfortunately for the Tinora Rams, a dry spell in the third quarter resulted in their fourth straight loss, a 48-45 thriller at the J. Harry Leopold gymnasium at Miller City High School.

The Rams played one of their better quarters of the season to open the game, Tinora led 15-8 late and exited with a 15-11 lead. Luke Harris had a big hand in the Tinora lead, bucketing 12 points in the quarter.

As the second quarter started, Miller City’s Ethan Barlage would tighten the screws on Harris, Harris would not score in the second quarter. The Rams would still lead Miller City at the half, 21-19.

The Rams defense did a great job, limiting the Wildcats twin towers of Niese and Ruhe to just two points in the first half.

The third quarter would wind up being the downfall of the Rams, that and in inability to grab key rebounds.

Miler City would outscore Tinora 12-0 to start the third stanza, the Wildcats would grab a 31-21 lead with 3:20 remaining in the quarter. Luke Harris would finally break the ice for himself and the Rams with a driving layup, stopping the Miller City run with 3:00 minutes remaining, the Wildcats led 31-23. Tinora would get as close as 31-27 before the Wildcats would end the quarter with a dagger.
The Wildcats Thomas Niese would nail a three from the left corner at the buzzer, giving the Wildcats a 36-30 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter would see Tinora rally and grad the lead. Aiden Rittenhouse and Luke Harris would catch fire as well as a key three pointer from Eli Plassman would key the Tinora rally. The Rams would cut the Wildcats lead to 41-40 with just over four minutes remaining.

Eli Plassman would nail a three pointer with 3:10 remaining, Tinora would lead 43-41. Two fee throws by Miller City’s Ethan Barlage would tie the game at 43-43, 2:50 would remain. Plass man would collect his fifth foul a few seconds later.

On the next Tinora possession, the Rams would regain the lead 45-43 at the 2:40 mark on a great pass from Gavin Eckert to Luke Harris, Harris’s twentieth point would be his and the Rams last of the night.

Over the next two plus minutes, the Rams would be unable to grab the key defensive rebound, nor convert on the offensive end.

Silas Niese would hit one of two free throws with 2:20 left, for the Wildcats, the Rams would still lead by one 45-44.

After a Tinora turnover, with 1:25 remaining, Miller City would again head back to the free throw line, this time, Thomas Weis would tie the game at 45-45 by split the pair, making the first, missing the second.
Miller City’s Andon Ruhe would control the offensive rebound, kicking it out to a wide open Ethan Barlage who hit a right corner three pointer, Miller City would lead 48-45 at the 1:15 mark.

The final 85 seconds would see neither team score. The Rams would have several chances to tie the game over the final 30 seconds.

Tinora would have a shot after Miller City would miss two free throws, but the last three Tinora possessions would result in two missed three pointers and with 1.2 seconds remaining, Tinora couldn’t get a shot off before the final buzzer.

Tinora falls to 4-5. The Rams will finally be back home, playing on Jan 6 vs Fairview.

Miller City improves to 5-3 and will travel to take on Pandora-Gilboa on Jan 2.

Listen back to the thriller below:

TINORA 15 6 9 15 – 45
MILLER CITY 11 8 17 12 – 48

Tinora scoring: Eckert 2, Plassman 6, Anders 2, Harris 20, Spychela 0, Ackerman 0, Friedrickson 1

Miller City scoring: B Barlage 7, E Barlage 13, Niese 5, Weis 14, Pester 4, Ruhe 5

JV
Miller City 52 Tinora 27
Rams Ferrell 10 points – MC Gerten 19 points

Freshman
Miller City 42-39 – Rams lose at buzzer
Rams Schauffle 11 points