(Peru, Neb.) – A dramatic ending. With 3.9 seconds left on the clock, a Grand View player missed the second of two free throws. Senior guard
Corday Sims (Chicago) grabbed the rebound and headed down the court. Just a couple steps past the half-court line, Sims launched a three-pointer which tickled the twines bringing on an approximate ten-minute review of the shot. After the review, the officials gave the three-point signal and Peru State had prevailed 88-85 over the visiting Grand View University Vikings.
The legendary Al Wheeler appears to be looking at the game-winning shot from his photo on the south wall as Corday Sims get the
buzzer-beater to to Grand View 88-85. Great shot by Sophie Schmucker!With the win, the 24
th-ranked Bobcats improved to 11-7 overall and 8-3 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The 8-3 mark after the first round of conference play puts the 'Cats solely in second place and two games behind league-leading William Penn University. The Vikings fell to 9-9 overall and 3-8 in the Heart.
First Half Action The first half would see Peru State trail most of the first 20 minutes and would do so by as many as 14 before having a late rally.
Darwin Ellis hits a jumper late in the
game. Ellis finished with 21 points. The Vikings hit a three-pointer to start the game which was countered by Sims at the 19:14 mark on an assist from
Quantice Hunter (Chicago). Grand View would come back with another trey only to be countered by Peru State's
Darwin Ellis (Brooklyn, N.Y.) on another assist from Hunter. Grand View would score the next six points and the Bobcats would trail most of the rest of the first half.
Grand View moved out to a 12-point lead at 20-8 before
Rich Shepherd (Greenville, N.C.) hit a trey on an assist from Sims with 13:22 left in the half. Again, the Vikings would go up by double-digits and extended their lead to 14 at 32-18 with just over ten minutes to go in the first 20 minutes.
With 8:04 left in the half, Ellis hit a three-pointer on an assist from Shepherd to pull the 'Cats back within eight at 33-25. A pair of free throws by Grand View stretched their lead back to ten at 35-25.
This is the point where Peru State started their first-half comeback.
Kris Frazier (Cleveland) hit a bucket which was followed by a three-pointer by Sims and it was now 35-30 Grand View with 6:46 left in the first half. After a Viking bucket, Ellis hit a field goals which he later followed up with a trey with 4:31 remaining in the first 20 minutes to make it 37-35.
It would not be until Sims hit another three on an assist from Ellis with 1:51 left that Peru State would finally take the lead at 44-43. Grand View would regain the lead with a bucket, but Sims would hit a two-pointer with 12 seconds left in the half to give the 'Cats a 46-45 lead at halftime.
Second Half Action The second half was tight throughout as there were seven ties in the period as well as 12 lead changes.
After being tied at 52-52 with 19:14 left in the game, back-to-back treys by Sims and Ellis on assists from
Jeff Neverson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Hunter respectively gave Peru State its largest lead of six at 58-52 with 17:40 to go.
Peru State maintained the lead until Grand View went on top 61-60 at the 15:04 mark. The Vikings would extend the lead to seven at 68-61 with 12:51 remaining and still led by seven at 73-66 at the 9:00 point in the game.
Jeff Neverson goes high for two
of his ten points When Frazier made the first of two free throws with 3:39 remaining, he tied the game at 78-78 and then gave the 'Cats the lead at 79-78 as he hit the second free throw.
The game would go back and forth the rest of the way with neither team leading by more than one and fans would see the game tied four more times before Sims hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer.
GRAND VIEW GAME BOOK Team Statistics The shooting statistics were pretty close between the teams as one would expect. Peru State made 29 of 66 field goals for 43.9% which included hitting 14 of 37 threes for 37.8%. At the free throw line, the Bobcats went 16 of 24 for 66.7%. The Vikings made 27 of 62 field goals for 43.5% and connected on 7 of 15 treys for 46.7%. At the charity stripe, Grand View made 24 of 33 free throws for 72.7%.
Peru State did hold a rebounding edge as they grabbed 46 rebounds, including 12 offensive, while the Vikings snared 31. The Bobcats dished out 17 assists compared to Grand View's 10. The 'Cats did commit more turnovers as they had 19 while Grand View only had 11. Peru State blocked six shots with the Vikings having one. The steals were nearly even as the Vikings had eight and Peru State stole seven.
Individual Statistics Sims had a game-high 27 points on 7 of 14 shooting including making 5 of 10 from behind the arc. He connected on 8 of 11 free throws. Ellis added 21 points on 8 of 17 shooting while Neverson finished the game with ten points.
Kris Frazier blocks a Grand View shot late
in the game which brought a roar from the crowd-
especially from the baseball team! Sims also led both teams with ten rebounds to finish with another double-double on the season. Frazier and Neverson each added nine rebounds.
Hunter and Sims each dished out a game-high five assists with Shepherd contributing four. Frazier blocked four shots with
Riak Bol (Omaha) and Hunter each blocking one. Frazier and Sims each had two steals.
Upcoming Games Peru State will be on the road Saturday as they travel to Fayette, Mo., to take on Central Methodist University at 4 p.m. The Eagles are presently 10-9 on the season and 4-7 in the Heart having lost five conference games in a row with all being close. This kicks off the second round of play in the home-and-home action in the Heart.
Next Wednesday, the Bobcats will be back in the confines of the Al Wheeler Activity Center where they will host Benedictine College at 7:30 p.m. The Ravens have dropped their past two conference games and are now 11-6 overall and 5-6 in conference play.
