Things started well and ended well for the Bruin boys basketball team in the district semifinal Tuesday night. In the middle, however, the result was constantly in doubt.
Entering the district tournament as the third seed the Bruins secured a first round bye before facing Blue Springs in the semifinal Tuesday night.
The Bruins opened the game with a 9-0 run, but by the end of the first quarter trailed 15-14. At half the game was tied at 24, but coming out of the break the Bruins went on a 6-0 run and closed the third quarter ahead 38-34.
In the fourth the Bruins held a slim 58-56 lead before surrendering a put-back bucket to Wildcat Kai Miller as time expired to send the game to overtime.
“It was my guy, but I over-helped on defense, and by the time I recovered he was in air, and I didn’t want to foul,” senior forward Eric Kuse said. “[Because it was our] potential last game, I was just thinking, ‘This is freaking crazy.’ I think everyone for a bit kind of had negative thoughts, but after the tip for OT and we scored the first basket, we knew we would have another chance to battle it out.”
In overtime the game would fall on Kuse’s shoulders as with nine seconds left he went to the line with RBHS clinging to a 64-63 lead. In seamless fashion Kuse sank both free throws, something he attributes to previous experiences.
“Well I was put in that position in the Borgia game and the Hickman game before tonight’s game,” Kuse said, “although this was a way bigger stage. But I just got myself relaxed and was like, ‘No way in heck I’m losing my last game by not putting these in’.”
With the win the Bruins advance to the district championship to take on Class 5 No. 3 Blue Springs South today at BSS at 7:30 p.m.
By Graham Ratermann