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Badger boys almost knock off #1 ranked Kellogg
February 11, 2015
The Bonners Ferry Badger Boys' Varsity basketball team took Idaho's #1 ranked Kellogg Wildcats right down to the closing seconds before losing the game by 3 points, 46-43.

The game started out looking like it might be just another runaway Intermountain League game for the Wildcats, who are undefeated in league play. However, the Badgers, though they trailed for most of the game, never allowed the score to get completely out of control. At halftime, Bonners was down by 9 with the score 26-17.

In the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, the top-ranked Kellogg team found themselves in a scramble for the victory. Bonners Ferry began making Kellogg sit up and take notice when, with the score 41-36 in favor of Kellogg, Caleb Blackmore was fouled on a layup. The made layup along with his made free throw suddenly brought the Badgers within 2 points at 41-39 with about 3 1/2 minutes left in the game.

Then it was turnover Kellogg, turnover Bonners Ferry, turnover Kellogg, before Kaleb Stockton drove on the basket and tied the game at 41 with 2:40 to go. The Badgers then stunned Kellogg by taking the lead 43-41 on Collin Stone's layup.

A free throw and a three pointer by Kellogg made the score 45-43 in favor of the Wildcats.

Here is how the Badgers kept the hometown crowd screaming and on the edge of their seats in the closing seconds of the game: With around 25 seconds to go, score 45-43 in Kellogg's favor, Bonners Ferry got off a missed shot, but got the offensive rebound and attempted a putback, which didn't go in. The rebound off the putback attempt was batted around by both Kellogg and Badger players until the ball went out of bounds. The referees awarded the out of bounds ball to the Badgers, and with 15 seconds to go, Stockton launched a three point shot that rimmed, rolled around the rim, and spun out.

With seven seconds left, the Badgers were forced to foul one of the Wildcats best free throw shooters, who missed the one and one shot, got his own rebound, was fouled again, and went to the line again with another opportunity. Incredibly, he missed again on his first free throw, but made the second, putting Kellogg up by three. With four seconds to go, the Badgers put up a final desperation shot off the inbounds pass. The final buzzer sounded as that shot fell short of the basket.

The #1 ranked Wildcats barely escaped with the win. You can watch a replay of the game, or just watch the exciting fourth quarter, at www.boundarycountylive.com.

Badger scoring for the game: Caleb Blackmore 15, Kaleb Stockton 13, Wyatt Nelson 5, Pat O'Hara and Collin Stone had 4 each, and Warren Carle scored 2.

The Badger Boys next home game will be their last home game of the season, Senior Night, as they play the Clark Fork Wampus Cats on Thursday, February 19.



 
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