Takeaways from Chester Area vs. Dell Rapids St. Mary’s OT Thriller
Dell Rapids St. Mary’s looks to continue their best start to a season since 2008 while Chester looks to get back into the win column after suffering three losses so far this season.
Game Recap
Late in the fourth quarter Chester Area thought they had the game in the bag going to the line ahead three points only needing to make one to seal the victory. The Flyers ended up missing a couple front ends of one and ones to give the Cardinals a chance to tie the game with under 10 seconds remaining.
Insert Connar Kangas.
With time running out Kangas had the ball and threw up a fading prayer on the right wing that hit nothing but net to send the game into extras. The Cardinals would outscore the Flyers 6-4 in the OT period to come out with the 61-59 win. The Flyers had a chance to tie but Dylan Eppard missed a pair of free throws late in the game.
Prayers Answered
Kangas threw up a prayer and it was answered to send the Cardinals into overtime. He would foul out in the overtime period with 12 points but none were more important than the final three points he scored.
Connar Kangas sends Dell Rapids St. Mary and Chester Area into overtime. #sdpreps pic.twitter.com/ANDAY3iBp7
— Ryan Deal (@RyanDeal_605) December 18, 2018
Connor Libis continues to put up big numbers
Libis is averaging 26 points through three games thus far and put up 21 tonight against Chester Area. He has been a monster on the boards as well grabbing eight in back-to-back games. Last year he averaged 22.4 ppg and 3.3 boards as a freshman. Every year he has improved his stats.
Chester Area went cold in the fourth and OT periods.
The Flyers had a comfortable 52-41 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Cardinals would then go on to outscore the Flyers 14-3 in the fourth quarter. Chester would end up getting outscored 20-7 in the final two periods of the game.
Missed Free Throws
Both teams had several missed opportunities from the charity stripe tonight, but none were bigger than few that Chester Area missed at the end of regulation to allow St. Mary’s a chance to hit that buzzer beater. Then in overtime, Chester Area had a chance to tie the game when Dylan Eppard drew a block on the drive to the basket late in the game. He would miss both from the line, but the Cardinals would miss a few of their own late in the game to keep the Flyers hopes alive, but a last-second heave didn’t connect for Chester Area.
What does this game mean?
Probably not a whole lot this early in the season, but for St. Mary’s it’s one of their best starts to a season since 2008. It also proves that even though St. Mary’s was down by double digits heading into the fourth quarter they didn’t give up on themselves and fought back to bring the game into overtime and eventually come out with the win on the road.