NC vs Chargers battle in overtime

The NC Thunder lost a difficult 60-50 boys varsity basketball outcome in OT to Sully Buttes last February 23.

Indeed this game featured another OT when all was said and done. The score was all even at 50-50 at the end of regulation. But the Chargers would live up to their name and charge ahead with 10 unanswered OT points!

They were led by Wesley Wittler with 31 points followed by Eli Mercer with his 16 points. Three additional Chargers would score. Meanwhile the Thunder were led by Donovan Nelson with 16 points including four treys. Raynor Sprague was next with 12 points including three treys and Cole Beitelspacher added 11 points including one trey. Zane Haar scored four points followed by Brady Beitelspacher contributing three points. And Kobe Wherry and Dawson Walz each tallied two points.

The Thunder were able to net eight two-pointers and also eight treys. And they were 10-18 in free throws. The Chargers ended up with 13 deuces, eight treys and 10 free throws as well.

The Thunder obtained 37 rebounds and the Chargers, 33. (The Thunder would distributed their rebounds to a number of players.) But the Thunder would sustain 30 turnovers and the SB ball handlers only eight miscues.

This game had featured a Thunder first-quarter lead of 17-9 and they also led 27-25 at intermission. And at the end of the third quarter the Thunder would lead 38-31. But Sully Buttes responded with an impressive fourth quarter effort to climb back into that 50-50 deadlock.

The Thunder boys played McLaughlin there in the opening round of Region 6A play. Tuesday's winners would play again on March 1. The bracket winners will play in the SoDak 16 on March 5. The State A Tournament will be played March 14-16 in Rapid City.