By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
When the Hayden boys left the door open at the end of the fourth period Thursday night, Eudora took advantage, sending the meeting at Hayden into overtime. When Eudora returned the favor, the Wildcats stole the game 58-53 to close the regular season 12-8.
Hayden junior Connor Hanika put the Wildcats ahead in OT in Thursday's 58-53 win ovr Eudora. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Leading 53-52 in overtime, Eudora hoisted an ill-advised 3-pointer with 30 seconds remaining. Hayden senior Connor Hanika drove aggressively the full length of the floor, got to the rim, and converted an old-fashioned three-point play.
“I got the rebound and started pushing it up the floor,” Hanika said. “I had two (teammates) in the corner like we do on every transition, and I saw the defender playing to the right side of the box. I figured I could take him. I decided to go up and it fell for me, and I got the and-one.”
The Wildcats trapped a Eudora dribbler on the ensuing possession, forcing a turnover with 10 seconds left, effectively ending the game.
“It’s a game of possessions. Sometimes the possession works and sometimes it doesn’t,” said Hayden coach Dwayne Anthony. “I’m just thankful we were able to take advantage.”
Hanika sat much of the first period as the Wildcats started other seniors. He was held scoreless in the first two periods, but he notched 10 points after halftime, including the one to put Hayden over the top.
“It feels great,” Hanika said. “Seniors came out really phenomenal. They wanted a chance to prove themselves and they did. Going to (the playoffs) is going to be really fun. This is a great group of guys.”
The Wildcats were led in scoring by junior Kade Mitchell and senior Cooper Zwiesler, who each scored 13.
The Cardinals were led by sophomore Ryan Osburn, who finished with 24.
“Shout out to Eudora. They’ve got a tough, scrappy team and (Osburn) was phenomenal,” Anthony said. “But I’m thankful my guys dug in, made it an ugly game and still got the win. I’m very proud of them.”
The Wildcats now await the sub-state pairings to be announced. Anthony said Thursday revealed plenty to improve, but he likes what he has to work with.
“I’m so excited. I’ve got a great group of kids,” Anthony said. “Now, good, bad or ugly, we have to level up, see what we did wrong – thank goodness for video – tighten up and do better. This was a good game to kind of see where we need to tighten up a little bit.”
HAYDEN BOYS 58, EUDORA 53
Eudora 9 10 13 10 5 -- 53
Hayden 12 16 10 10 -- 58
Eudora (10-10) – Jerome 2-5 0-0 5, Osburn 10-20 1-2 24, Siemon 0-1 0-0 0, Watson 1-2 0-0 2, Schneider 4-14 3-4 12, Crabill 2-4 1-1 5, Oatis 1-2 0-0 2, Gardner 1-3 0-0 3, Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Dunback 0-0 0-0 0, Duncan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-52 5-7 53.
Hayden (12-8) – Banks 0-0 0-0 0, Heinen 0-1 0-0 0, Kuta 3-4 1-2 7, Power 0-0 0-0 0, Zwiesler 5-7 1-2 13, Deister 4-9 0-0 8, Hanika 3-6 4-7 10, Mitchell 4-8 4-4 13, Becker 3-11 1-2 7, Wolff 0-1 0-0 0, Compton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-46 11-17 58.
3-point goals – Eudora 6 (Osburn 3, Jerome 1, Schneider 1, Gardner 1), Hayden 3 (Zwiesler 2, Mitchell 1). Total fouls – Eudora 17, Hayden 17. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – Watson.
