Posted: Feb 28, 2025
February 28th - Game 7 MBB Championship
St Mary's Lightning vs Keyano Huskies, 6:00 game, 2nd round, a rematch of last year's final where Keyano is the defending champs, the much anticipated rematch started with attacks to the basket. It took 2 minutes for either team to get on the board, and it was a trio of free throws for the Lightning. Tight defense met the aggressive drives to the basket, but the next minute found multiple layups for both teams. Keyano made the first 3, and it was all tied up at 9 at the 5 minute mark of the 1st quarter. The Lightning managed to build a 5 pt lead by the end of the quarter, 18-13.
#7 Brock Dewsbery for St Marys and #9 Yasser Abdullahi for Keyano traded several baskets each to start the 2nd quarter. #5 Omeechi Williams for Keyano took the lead with a 3, but Dewsbery took the lead right back with a jumper. Keyano's #5 Williams dropped another 3, making it 27-25 for Keyano at just under the 7 minute mark. #7 Dewsbery answered back with another tough jumper over a defender from 15 ft, then #10 Keenan Miller for the Huskies got a layup. #5 Williams nails another 3 for Keyano and is on fire.
#9 for Keyano picked up his 3rd foul on a boxout, and he exited the game in trouble. #7 Dewsbery remained hot nails a jumper from the free throw line. Keyano coach picks up the tech for coming on the court after a player goes down hard after a finished play, gathering a crowd. After the made free throw, Keyano is still up by 7 with 4 minutes left, but #9 Isaiah Macdonald for the Lightning makes an open 3, closing the gap further to 39-35 Huskies. #2 Pelumi Ajayi for St Mary's had been quiet but got 5 quick points to close the quarter to take the lead by 1.
Keys 7 opened with a quick 3, 2 counters with a layup, Key 10 nice jumper from the freethrow line, 5 Key makes another 3, 21 adds a runner, Keyano forces a timeout as they take a quick lead 53-44. Lightning respond with a 3 from 15 ft. #7 Keenen Caribou for Keyano finishes a tough drive to the hoop. Quarter ends with great athletic baskets by both teams, and a D breakdown with 3.5 sec left to go end to end and giving the Huskies an open floater to take a 69-60 lead into the 4th.
The first 5 minutes of the last quarter saw tough defense leading to a blocked dunk attempt, bodies flying in the key, Keyano having earned 5 fouls to the 1 by St Marys by the 5 minute mark. #3 Caleb Jipp for the Lightning makes an amazing reverse layup after an end to end race to draw within 6 at 4 minutes remaining, leading to a timeout by Keyano.
#9 Yasser Andullahi fouls out 20 sec later for the Huskies. With 2 minutes remaining, #7 Dewsbery for the Lightning drains a clutch 3 to draw within 4. #7 for the Huskies responds with a 3 of his own. #2 Pelumi Ajayi, Lightning responds with a corner 3 with 1 minute remaining. #5 for Keyano makes a clutch drive into the chest of 7, making the floater, and no call as Dewsbery hits the floor. With 30 seconds, Lightning needed to foul twice to get Huskies in bonus...#7Keenen Caribou for Huskies misses the 2nd free throw, yet with no other rebounders for his team, gets his own miss. Score 86-77 for the Huskies.
In the remaining seconds, the Lightning manage 2 more baskets to one for the Huskies, but the gap was too much to overcome...It ended 88-82 for Keyano.
The rematch did not disappoint, what an amazing game, I am sure all who watched it were impressed with the athleticism and effort on display!
Players of the Game
St Marys #7 Brock Dewsbery with 23 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and a block.
Keyano #21 Kahshon Hurst with 21 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and a block.