WABASH — The last time the Manchester boys basketball team lost, it was facing the Wabash Apaches in the opening round of the Wabash County Tournament. Following that 63-56 defeat on Dec. 27, the Manchester Squires (8-3, 3-0 TRC) had Friday night’s Three Rivers Conference game circled on the schedule, knowing it was their chance at getting revenge on the Wabash Apaches (4-4, 1-1 TRC). In the rematch, at Wabash’s Coolman Gym, the Squires got a balanced scoring attack from Claudel Dickantone (19 points), Chase Fierstos (17) and Clayton Petrie (13) to walk away with a thrilling 51-48 overtime victory. “It felt good to get the revenge factor and stay undefeated in the TRC,” said Manchester head coach Eric Thompson. “I feel whoever wins the TRC will be 7-0, and we don’t have a chance if we get beat. Right now, we are still in control.” While both teams were knotted up at 11 in the first quarter, the Apaches took charge in the second and third quarters, maintaining a lead at the end of both periods, but the Squires were still hanging around. “In the first half, we were outrebounded 18-8, and we did not take our shots when we were open,” Thompson said. “In the second half, we got our composure, hit our free throws and got in the position to win. We got the ball to the right guy at the right time.” Dickantone was fouled and hit two free throws with 16.9 seconds remaining in regulation to put the Squires up by three at 42-39. Burning the clock down to 1.7 seconds, and having exhausted their final timeout, Wabash had possession and drew up a prayer shot. Thompson made it imperative that his players don’t foul, but Wabash’s Jordan Blair was indeed fouled while attempting a three-point basket, resulting in three free throws in 0:00 showing on the game clock. Heading to the free-throw line, Blair needed to hit all three to continue the game. The first shot hit the front of the rim, then back and through the net. An audible gasp and loud cheer from both sides could be heard from outside the gymnasium on the first attempt. He went on to sink the next two shots to force overtime and create madness in Coolman Gym. “What composure for [Blair] to have ice in his veins and make all three free throws, and he almost missed the first one,” Thompson said. In extra time, Manchester opened up with two quick free throws from Fierstos to go up 44-42. Wabash’s Roger Davis answered right back with a three-point basket to go up 45-44, creating the raucous atmosphere again having the lead back. A couple turnovers seemed to have doomed the Squires, but seven-straight points from Fierstos, Dickantone and Phoenix Goad propelled them to a three-point lead with just seconds remaining in overtime. Davis put up a desperation shot as he was crossing the timeline, but the ball bounced off the front end of the rim, ending the game. Manchester will now take its four-game winning streak with it home for Friday’s TRC contest against the Rochester Zebras.
MANCHESTER 51, WABASH 48 (OT) M 11 6 12 13 7 – 51 W 11 12 8 11 6 – 48 Manchester – Chase Fierstos 7 3-4 19, Braydon Sewell 0 0-0 0, Claudel Dickantone 7 5-5 19, Phoenix Goad 1 0-0 2, Clayton Petrie 5 0-1 11, Branden Scott 0 0-0 0, Cameron Brandenburg 0 0-0 0, Lucas Schilling 0 0-0 0, Micah McDaniel 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 8-10 51. Wabash – Kodi Clemons 1 0-0 2, Christian Hall 3 1-2 8, Grant Sailors 3 4-5 10, Roger Davis 5 3-5 16, Chase Dirig 1 0-0 2, Jordan Blair 1 3-3 5, Cody King 2 1-2 5, Mike Jones 0 0-0 0, Brodie Hough 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 12-17 48. 3-point goals – Manchester 3 (Fierstos 2, Petrie), Wabash 4 (Davis 3, Hall); Team Fouls (fouled out) – Manchester 17 (Sewell), Wabash17. Records: Manchester 8-3 (3-0 TRC), Wabash 4-4 (1-1 TRC). JV – Manchester 46, Wabash 35 Manchester JV – David McAtee 16, Austin Brewer 11, Bailey Ness 7, Keelan Norwood 7, Levi Hicks 5.
