Roy-Hart edges past rival Barker

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 20 January 2017 at 10:29 pm
012017_CW_Royhart basketball 1

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Matt Borel puts up a shot against Barker defender Shawn Callaghan during the Rams narrow win over the visiting Raiders this evening.

Surviving a tight stretch run battle, Roy-Hart edged past visiting rival Barker 60-54 this evening leaving both teams at 3-3 at the halfway point of the Niagara-Orleans League basketball season.

Jacob Bruning scored 10 of his 19 points, Matt Borel 6 of his 19 and Brendon Hess all 5 of his in the decisive final period to help Roy-Hart claim the win. DJ Davis also had 11, Tim Moriarity 4  and Charlie Brigham 2 on the night for the Rams.

012017_CW_Royhart basketball 2

Barker’s Eddie Wasnock grabs a rebound against Roy-Hart defender Jacob Bruning.

Nate Luckman had 14 and Austin Sullivan 10 to lead Barker as Jake Arnold added 8, Eddie Wasnock and Malik Smith 7, Shawn Callaghan 6 and Ryan Voss 2.

Breaking away from a 13-13 tie early in the second period, Barker put together a 14-5 run to open up what proved to be the Raiders biggest lead of 9 at 27-18. Wasnock and Luckman both had 5 during that stretch.

However, Roy-Hart answered with a 6-0 run to close the period, all by Borel, and rally back to within 3, 27-24, at the half.

The lead then sea-sawed back and forth six times in the third period which finished with Roy-Hart holding a slender 39-37 lead on a late three-point play by Borel who had a total of 7 in the period.

Threes by Luckman and Sullivan in the period kept Barker close.

Barker pulled even one last time, at 41-41, early in the final period after a rebound bucket by Voss and a layup by Smith but the Raiders could not regain the lead.

Buckets by Bruning, Borel and Hess gave Roy-Hart a 47-43 led midway through the period.

A three by Smith pulled Barker to within one, 47-46, but Roy-Hart answered back with back-to-back jumpers by Bruning and Hess to regain a little breathing room at 52-46.

The Raiders did pull back to with three twice in the final 2:30, first at 52-49 after a three by Luckman, and again at 57-54 after a three by Sullivan, but could get no closer.

Borel had a layup and a free throw to give Roy-Hart a 56-49 lead.

Three clutch free throws by Bruning in the final 16 seconds then locked up the win for the Rams after the Raiders had pulled to within 57-54.

012017_CW_Royhart basketball 3

Roy-Hart’s Jacob Bruning tries to put up a shot against Barker defenders Nate Luckman, left, and Jake Arnold.

012017_CW_Royhart basketball 4

Barker’s Malik Smith puts up a shot against Roy-Hart defender Matt Borel.