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Amazing state rally! But S.V. Eagles fall just short
LINCOLN, Neb. — One final beautiful moment saw “quarterback” Carter Bose peek around two defenders and spot great target Clayton Berry in the corner.
Touchdown! That’s what Berry did with a three-pointer and Southern Valley was on its way to another memorable state BASKETBALL tournament experience Wednesday afternoon.
Sure, the Eagles didn’t hit quite enough shots as they fell 13 points behind Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family in their third quarter of this Class D-1 game at Lincoln Southeast High School.
Where else will anyone see a team wipe out those 13 points during less than one full quarter?
That’s exactly what the Eagles achieved despite an eventual 49-43, season-ending defeat.
Southern Valley was trailing 36-23 and struggling five minutes into the second half with only one made basket.
Yet as coach Jimmy Sindelar said just two days ago, “our backs have been up against a wall numerous times but there’s never been an ounce of panic.”
Relax. Senior Clayton Berry just connected with a smooth shot.
Senior Carter Bose went to the bench with four fouls?
Stay calm. Freshman brother Kamden Bose picked up the slack when he retrieved a loose ball, spun and swished another three-pointer before the third quarter expired.
Now it was just 37-31.
Eagle fans were roaring but junior Isaak McPhillamy stayed cool and trimmed (not his hair) another triple making it 37-34.
The Eagles barely blinked following a Holy Family because Carter Bose was back and — holy Tommy Frazier! — made that perfect pass to set up Berry’s corner touchdown,
Only two points seaparated last year’s state semifinals where Southern Valley knocked Holy Family and reached the D-1 title game.
Deja vu? Perhaps Berry buried not one but two big baskets and suddenly Southern Valley led 41-39.
Berry’s go-ahead layin came off a perfect pass from classmate Brody Yant.
Unfortunately for Southern Valley’s large-loud fan following, staying calm covered both strong teams on this day.
“Just hang in there,” HLHF coach Jon Hesse said about the Bulldogs’ late mindset. “We are always one play away from righting the ship.”
In other words, Class D-1’s No. 2 state seed was not stopping with 39 points like last year’s 47-39 loss to these same Eagles.
Forward Ethan Keller quickly re-tied the game at 41, then Jason Sjuts fired his own dramatic pass to twin brother Jacob Sjuts sneaking behind Southern Valley’s defense.
Jacob made that tie-breaking shot off the glass and those Bulldogs’ ship was officially righted.
They sailed away with 10 of the final 12 points to secure a “revenge” state tournament win.
“I dashed to the right and I think he (Jason) saw me out of the corner of his eye,” Jacob Sjuts explained. “Nice little connection there.”
Southern Valley’s connection to a fine 2021 senior class will always remain.
Carter Bose, Berry, Yant, Colton Burgeson and football force Dakota Coppedge all completed their Eagle basketball careers on Wednesday with those consecutive state tournament appearances.
They hit their first three shots to take a 7-3 lead after McPhillamy made a majestic high arching three-point shot.
Berry later finished that first quarter with his triple for the 12-12 deadlock.
Burgson also buried one long-range bomb to keep the Eagles close at 18-15.
Southern Valley just saw a few too many field goals and free throws bounce off the Lincoln Southeast rims.
H/LHF 49, Southern Valley 43
S.V. EAGLES (19-5) — Clayton Berry 12 points, Carter Bose 10, Brody Yant 9, Isaak McPhillamy 6, Colton Burgeson 3, Kamden Bose 3. Three-pointers: Berry 2, McPhillamy 2, Burgeson, Kamden Bose.
BULLDOGS (21-4) — Jason Sjuts 17, Jacob Sjuts 14, Ethan Keller 12, Sage Frauendorfer 5, Jett Spier 1. Three-pointers: Jason Sjuts, Fruendorfer.