In an electrifying quarterfinal clash at the 2023 Gardner Law King of the Bluegrass, the No. 7 Bowling Green Purples (7-2) narrowly edged past No. 3 Trinity Shamrocks (6-2) with a nail-biting 56-54 victory. This intense matchup, featuring 15 lead changes and no team ever leading by more than 5 points, culminated in a dramatic finish that had the fans on the edge of their seats.
Mason Ritter, the standout player for Bowling Green, was rightly named the Central Bank Player of the Game, contributing a crucial 16 points to his team’s victory.
A critical moment came with two minutes left when Trinity’s Vasser (13 points & 8 rebounds) hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 51-51. However, Bowling Green's Braylon Banks (10 points) immediately responded with a basket, pushing the Purples back into the lead.
Earlier, MJ Wardlow's (17 points & 12 rebounds) pair of free throws had extended Bowling Green’s lead to 55-51, proving pivotal in the game's final outcome.
Trinity's Jayden Johnson (12 points) drained a three-pointer, cutting Bowling Green's lead to a slender 55-54 with only 15.4 seconds remaining on the clock.
In the dying moments, Braylon Banks of Bowling Green missed the second of two free throws. Trinity seized the rebound and had possession with 8.6 seconds left, trailing by just two points.
The game's climax was heart-stopping, with Trinity's Julius Edmonds (2 points) almost turning the tide. His last-second putback, however, agonizingly fell short as time expired, sealing Bowling Green's victory.
This victory marks a significant achievement for Bowling Green, propelling them into their first King of the Bluegrass semifinal since 2016. They will take on Arkansas' top ranked Little Rock Central in Friday's 9:00pm semifinal.
No comments:
Post a Comment