Bethlehem Academy Boys Win Thriller Despite Clock Woes

The final 37.7 seconds of the game between Faribault Bethlehem Academy and Triton in Dodge Center Thursday night had to seem like an eternity to the Cardinals and their fans.

Bethlehem Academy Head Coach Eric Hildebrandt was happy his team was able to overcome some adversity and pick up a 50-47 win in the process.

The Cardinals led early but trailed at the half 23-18.

Without a doubt the difference in the game was at the free throw line with the Cardinals collecting 12 points there and the Cobras 3.

Neither team exactly put on a clinic of free throw shooting with Bethlehem Academy 12 of 22 in the game and Triton 3 of 8.

The Cardinals had a nice balance of inside and outside scoring in the game with 6'2 junior post Alex Bongers leading the way with 16 points.

6'2 sophomore Damon Trump finished with 11 points including a monster three late and 6'0 senior Brendan Trump and 5'10 sophomore Jack Clark drilled two other big three point baskets in the second half.  Brendan tallied 10 points and Clark 8.

Those four guys were named the Faribault State Farm Insurance agents Faribault players of the game courtesy of Tony Langerud and Jason Krohn.

Triton 6'0 junior Nick Roussopoulos led all players with 18 points.  Nearly all of them coming on layups.  The Cobras had just one other player in double figures, 5'10 sophomore Drew Kelly with 10 points.

After Clark hit an ice in your veins three to put Bethlehem Academy up by two with 37.7 seconds to go the clock was never started during the entire Triton trip to the other end of the floor.

The Cardinal coaches were pointing to the clock while hollering to the officials and the clock was started after a missed Triton basket.

Coach Hildebrandt told me he and his coaches thought there should have been 10 seconds run off, I guessed approximately 5.

The officials did not make any adjustment with the clock.

Two more times in the final 30 seconds more time was added to the clock.

Once when it showed four tenths of a second they upped the time to 3.1 and the other time when it appeared time had run out officials had 2.1 seconds put on the clock.

The Cobras tossed the ball in and took a half court shot at the buzzer which would have tied the game had it gone in.

Triton lost their sixth straight to fall to 1-6 and the Cardinals are now 2-3.

Triton plays LaCrescent at 4:00 p.m. in the Rochester Mayo Civic Auditorium Friday as part of the HVL vs. TRC Showdown event.

Bethlehem Academy tangles with state ranked Rushford-Peterson on the first day of the four team tournament in Hayfield.  They play Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. after Hayfield and Kenyon-Wanamingo square off.

The victors and losers play 5:45 and 7:45 p.m. Thursday.