The Bryan Golden Bears improved to 2-0 for the first time since the 2019-’20 season in a thrilling, come from behind win over the Tinora Rams.

The Rams led all but the final 27 seconds as the Golden Bears rallied from 11 points down in the very physical fourth, outscoring the Rams 17-12 in the final quarter to come away with a 56-54 win,

Tinora held a 54-46 lead with just under three minutes to go, but we outscored by Bryan down the stretch, 10-0.

The key play down the stretch for Bryan was a steal by senior guard Jase Kepler with 27 seconds remaining, Kepler scored and was fouled. The Kepler basket tied the game at 54-54, and his free throw gave Bryan a 55-54 lead.

Tinora had a chance to answer, but a short baseline jumper with 9 seconds would not fall, Bryan’s Sam Herold would grab the rebound and be fouled.
Herold, already with a game high 20 points, split the pair of free throws, increasing the Bryan lead to 56-54.

After a timeout, the Rams inbounded the ball with advanced it to midcourt with six seconds remaining.
Each team would then burn a timeout, the Golden Bears would foul with 4 seconds remaining, but were not over the limit.
A second attempt at the inbounds pass was successful, however a 30-foot shot by the Rams was wide right at the buzzer, the Bryan Golden Bears capped the com from behind win over Tinora.

The first half was an up and down, fast-paced game that saw Tinora’s Aiden Rittenhouse and Bryan’s Same Herold go toe to toe with each other in the scoring book.

Rittenhouse would lead the Rams at the half with 11 points, while Herold led the Golden Bears with 16, including a left corner three at the buzzer to end the first half.

Tinora held a 17-11 lead after one, and despite the Herold buzzer beater, still lead Bryan 29-26 at the half.
The Rams lead after three, 42-39.

Rams freshman Josh Leib had 14 points in his varsity debut.

TINORA 17-8-13-12=54
BRYAN 11-15-13-17=56

TINORA Scoring: C Ferrell 3, Ackerman 13, Welling 2, Homier 4, Rittenhouse 14, Leib 14, Spychala 3
BRYAN Scoring: Langenderfer 7, Kepler 8, Jaessing 6, Herold 21, Dominique 14

Tinora fell to 0-1 and will travel to Delta next Friday before hosting Napoleon on Saturday

Bryan improves to 2-0 and will travel to Wayne Trace next Friday and will host Hicksville next Saturday.

The Junior varsity a game was won by Bryan, 47-31.
Bryan’s Jack Kennedy with 19, Tucker Watson with 14
Tinora’s Kasen Joost with 10, Dylan Schaufele 9