On Saturday night a pair of missed contested last second shots by the Pirates proved to be the difference in a Senior night thriller at the Cove. No Junior Varsity game meant an early start of the Varsity game. The Tinora Rams provided the opposition and started the game hitting the first basket. Senior Caleb Olds put in the first basket for the Pirates to tie the game. The next 5 points went the Rams way when Olds again put in a 2 pointer to make it 7-4 Rams. The Rams put in a 3 pointer for the quarters final points Rams 10 Pirates 4.
The second quarter had Olds hitting a 3 for the Pirates to close the gap to 3. A Ram basket was met by a pair of Old 3s to make it 13 all. The two teams traded baskets (Pirate Senior Chris Potts put in a 2 pointer) to make it 15 all at half. Halftime entertainment had the Pirate Cheerleaders doing a very spirited dance routine.
The second half started with the Rams and Pirates exchanging points with the Rams hitting a 2 and Junior Jarret Keck putting in a pair of free throws for the Pirates. A Ram 5 point run was stopped when Olds hit a 3, Rams 22 Pirates 20. The Rams would score 5 of the next 7 points (Olds hitting a 2 for the Pirates) to make it 27-22 Rams after 3.
The Rams put in the first 4 points of the 4th top open up a 9 point 31-22 lead. The Pirates were not done as they went on a 6 point run (2 pointer by Potts, free throw by Olds, and a 3 by Freshman Mitchell Coleman) to make it a 3 point game 31-28. A basket by the Rams gave them 33. A pair of clutch free throws from Seniors Potts and Christian Keller made it a one point game 33-32. The Pirates had the ball at the end of the game and attempted to put in a couple of close contested shot but it wasn’t meant to be. Rams 33 Pirates 32 final.
Caleb Olds had a huge night as he led all leading scorers with 19 points. Chris Potts put in 6 for the Pirates, Mitchell Coleman 3, and Jarret Keck and Christian Keller 2 each.
Continental falls to 1-19 and will travel to Putnam County League Champ Pandora-Gilboa on Thursday. Tinora, coached by Paul Wayne, moves to 13-7.
Congratulations to Pirate Seniors Christian Keller, Cameron Mason, Chris Potts, and Caleb Olds on a great job representing the Blue and Gold. Continentalenews Sports wish you all a great finish to your Pirate career and success wherever you go.
The Pirates had one Senior Cheerleader Sydney Eickholt, thanks for bring Spirit to the game. Good luck in the future.
The Pep Band Seniors were also recognized as Seniors Riley Martin, Garrett Recker, Nick Koenig, Justin Becher, and Connor Bartley provided tunes one last time at the Cove.
The High School Choir sang the National Anthem.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
