Bruins avoid the trap at Princeton

The Bruins had just posted a big win Tuesday over 3A ranked Peoria Notre Dame, clinched a share of the NCIC championship and were looking ahead to the regional tournament. And while the Bruins may have fallen into the Tigers’ web, they avoided the trap, escaping with a 46-45 victory.

“You can tell the kids this is an important game, win the conference with however many (three) teams we’ve got, but they’re thinking about Bureau Valley,” Kilmartin said. “It’s just human nature. Because if you do lose, what does it mean? What does it really mean?”

PHS coach Jesse Brandt wrote on his chalkboard reminding his seniors this would be their last game on Prouty Gym and to make it memorable. They did their best to make it happen, especially in the fourth quarter.

After Sam Lucas hit a three-pointer from the top of the key to extend the Bruins lead to 40-29 to start the fourth quarter, the Tigers mounted their comeback. A Cole Evenson hoop, two free throws by Austin Mack and a putback by Austen Stewart made it 40-35. The Tigers forced a five-second call and another turnover on the Bruins before Stewart cashed in again to cap an 8-0 run to make it 40-37.

Another senior, Josh Kieffer, pitched in a three-point shot to pull PHS within 42-40 with 46.1 remaining. The Bruins came through from the free-throw line in the clutch, sinking 6 of 6 attempts in the final minute, four by senior guard Grant Bosnich of DePue to maintain the lead. They went 8 of 8 overall from the charity stripe.

Stewart nailed a three-point shot with 1.8 seconds remaining. The Bruins were able to inbound the ball deep and Brad Groleau simply flung the ball into the air to run out the final ticks.