Colton Swalley hit a clutch 3-pointer in the fourth quarter that put Northeast Nodaway’s Bluejays in front for good and NEN went on to pull away from Stewartsville/Osborn 52-43 Saturday to win Third Place at King City.
Previously, Northeast had suffered an ugly blowout at Mound City; seemingly hung over from that game, they had trouble putting away North Nodaway in a conference matchup and King City in the first round of the King City Tournament. They showed improvement against Albany, a team that had their number in recent years, playing them to a tie at halftime and only trailing by two in the fourth quarter before falling by five in the semifinals.
Against Stewartsville/Osborn, with only four losses on the year, Northeast was seemingly outplayed for much of the night. But it was at the free throw line that the Bluejays were able to stay in the game and then put it away; they were 20 for 24 from the line in Saturday’s game, while the WildCards only had five made free throws the entire game.
The Bluejays spotted the WildCards two quick 3-pointers right off the bad; not a good idea against a team that lives and dies by the 3-pointer. But they climbed back into the game thanks to balanced scoring; Lane Dack, Dylan McIntyre, and Auston Pride all chipped in as the Bluejays went back in front 8-7. But then the orange shirts started pounding the ball inside against Northeast’s man to man and moved back in front 15-10.
Northeast switched to their 1-3-1 trapping defense, and it got immediate results. Stewartsville/Osborn’s players were hurrying their passes and shots, and the Bluejays were able to get nine stops in their next ten defensive trips as they climbed back into the lead. Dylan McIntyre had the hot hand on defense as they went on a 12-2 run to go up five at 22-17 early in the second.
But a turnover led to a cheap bucket on the other end that broke the run; Stewartsville/Osborn started doing a better job of pushing it up the floor and erased Northeast’s lead, going ahead 23-22 on #13’s putback with 2:20 left. Colton Swalley scored off a Zach Pride steal, but then the orange shirts hit a 3-pointer to go up 26-24 at the break.
The Bluejays hung around in the third quarter for a little while, but then the WildCards started getting the ball inside at will, going up 33-27 as Northeast could make no impression against their defense, which came in giving up only 45 points per game.
Finally, Northeast switched back to their 1-3-1 trapping defense and Zach Pride took a charge on defense, which allowed the Bluejays to make a push to get back to within 33-30. Stewartsville hit a 3-pointer to go back up six, but then Ben Boswell knocked down a tough shot at the third quarter buzzer to cut it to four. Northeast had a free possession at the start of the fourth and converted the four point play to make it 36-34. #13 for Stewartsville scored from inside to make it 38-34, but then Dylan McIntyre drove the lane and Ben Boswell, who had been held scoreless until his third quarter buzzer beater, hit a 3-pointer to cut it to one. Dylan McIntyre then got a steal and hit two free throws to put the Bluejays in front 39-38.
Once again, Stewartsville/Osborn went to their inside game and #13 converted to put his squad up 40-39. But then Ben Boswell drove and found Colton Swalley on the right wing for a 3-pointer to go up 42-40.
A totally different Bluejay squad took over on defense, and they proceeded to lock down on defense, getting stops on the next four possessions. Meanwhile, they spread it out on offense, forcing the Wildcards to come out, and Colton Swalley drove and hit Auston Pride for a three point play to make it 45-40 with 2:05 left. Swalley then added a free throw to make it 46-40.
But after a Wildcard turnover, they put on a press and Northeast panicked, throwing it away on three straight possessions as Stewartsville/Osborn hit a free throw and a layup to cut it to 46-43. But then Northeast finally regained their composure, got it across halfcourt, and Colton Swalley hit two free throws with 45 seconds left to make it two possessions again at 48-43.
Once again, Northeast locked down on defense, getting three straight stops to finish the game as Auston Pride and Ben Boswell both went 2 for 2 from the line as the Bluejays pulled away.
Dylan McIntyre had 18 points for Northeast. Auston Pride had 15 and Colton Swalley had 10, a career high. Ben Boswell had 7 and Lane Dack 2.
Dylan McIntyre had two blocks.
Dylan McIntyre had 9 boards. Auston Pride had 8, Colton Swalley 5, Ben Boswell 3, and Zach Pride and Lane Dack 2 each.
Ben Boswell had 7 assists. Lane Dack had 6, and Auston Pride, Zach Pride, Colton Swalley, and Dylan McIntyre each had 1.
Zach Pride had 4 tips. Dylan McIntyre and Auston Pride had 2 each, and Colton Swalley, Lane Dack, and Ben Boswell had 1 each.
Zach Pride had 3 steals. Dylan McIntyre and Lane Dack had 2, and Ben Boswell had 1.
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