Thunderbirds fall in Overtime to Fort Benton
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Hays/Lodge Pole senior, TyShawn Shambo has had a big start to the season for the Thunderbirds, leading his team offensively nearly every time out. Shambo scored 25 in Mondays 61-55 overtime loss to the Fort Benton Longhorns.
To suggest that the Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds haven't been competitive this year would be a huge understatement. Counting their overtime contest against the Sugarbeeters on Tuesday, The Thunderbirds have played overtime in nearly half of their games thus far.
Monday in Fort Benton the Thunderbirds left it all on the court, but once again they fell in an overtime heart breaker, falling to the Longhorns 61-55.
The Longhorns appeared to be in control earl on as they controlled the tempo. Hays/Lodge Pole benefited by long three balls from junior Daniel Henry and sophomore RJ Blackcrow early on but trailed Fort Benton 17-8 after eight minutes of action.
The Thunderbirds started to click a bit before the half. The offense found a bit of a rhythm and the defense shored up some holes. Henry connected once again from long range, providing a spark to the Hays/Lodge Pole offense.
Senior Tyshawn Shambo has proven he can be a facilitator when needed and get his teammates involved, but he can also score the ball well. Shambo connected on all four of his free throw attempts as time wound down in the first half and scored six in the quarter steadying the Thunderbird attack.
Fort Benton saw their nine point lead shrink to five 27-22 as the teams headed to intermission.
Henry had the shooters eye Monday night as he began the third quarter with his third trifecta of the contest to help cut into the Longhorn lead. Blackcrow added another triple of his own and moments later Henry drained his fourth three-point bomb to help the Thunderbirds trim the deficit to just two heading into the fourth quarter of action, 40-38.
Hays/Lodge Pole Jacoby Ball has done a nice job for the Thunderbirds thus far, controlling the paint on both sides of the court.
Shambo then put the team on his back and found a way to keep the Thunderbirds within striking distance. Shambo had all eleven of the Thunderbirds fourth quarter points. Shambo connected on five of seven free throws down the stretch and helped the Thunderbird defense slow down the Longhorn attack.
The teams enter the extra frame all even at 49-49. Fort Benton quickly seized the momentum, taking a quick lead after the tip. Henry connected on his fifth three point bucket of the night in the overtime but it wasn't enough. Fort Benton began to pull away as time ran out, handing the Thunderbirds a 61-55 setback.
Shambo led the Hays/Lodge Pole attack with 25 points. Henry finished 16 in the loss. The Thunderbirds will regroup over the holiday break and are sure to turn things around. The Thunderbirds will return to the court on Friday, January 7 when they will welcome the Turner Tornadoes to the Thunderdome.
