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The Pratt Greenbacks won the St. John Lions Club Mid-Winter Classic as they outlasted the Medicine Lodge Indians, the top ranked team in 2A, 55-54 when the Indians’ last-second shot did not go in.
“Saturday was a fun moment for our team and especially the seniors,” Coach David Swank said. “The Medicine Lodge kids hit some very difficult shots. The game was truly a championship effort by both teams and could have easily gone either direction.”
Micah Swank got the Greenbacks on the board first as he scored the first of his team high 34.
“Micah got us off to a great start tonight by hitting several big shots early in the game,” Swank said of his son. “He really stepped up tonight, not only with his scoring but also with his passing.”
Swank scored the first 12 points for Pratt as the Greenbacks led 12-7 midway through the first quarter. The Indians cut the lead back to three but Austin McClain buried a 12-foot shot and the advantage was back to five.
Medicine Lodge hit their second three of the quarter to get within two points with 2:42 left. Skylar Dear answered 11 seconds later with his own 3-point shot. The Indians got the next five pints to tie the game but Skylar scored with seven seconds left in the quarter and Pratt was up 19-17.
Medicine Lodge took the lead on a free throw less than two minutes into the second quarter. B.J. Dean put the Greenbacks back ahead with a three and his brother nailed one also and Pratt was up 25-20 with 5:13 left.
The Indians went on a 6-point run over the next three minutes to take back the lead but Swank got a field goal and Pratt was ahead. Payson Maydew made a free throw late in the quarter and the Greenbacks headed to the locker room with a 2-point lead 28-26.
Swank gpt a basket just 10 seconds into the third quarter but Medicine Lodge answered quickly before Swank would hit another 3-point shot and with less than a minute into the quarter Pratt was back on top by five.
The Indians went on another 6-point run over three minutes span before Dylan Besser made a lay-up. After an Indian 3-point shot Swank mase two free throws and got a basket before Skylar got the lead back to five points with a 3-point shot with two minutes left in the quarter. A Medicine Lodge 3-point shot with 30 seconds left made it 42-40 Pratt going into the fourth quarter.
The Pratt Greenbacks won the St. John Lions Club Mid-Winter Classic as they outlasted the Medicine Lodge Indians, the top ranked team in 2A, 55-54 when the Indians’ last-second shot did not go in.
“Saturday was a fun moment for our team and especially the seniors,” Coach David Swank said. “The Medicine Lodge kids hit some very difficult shots. The game was truly a championship effort by both teams and could have easily gone either direction.”
Micah Swank got the Greenbacks on the board first as he scored the first of his team high 34.
“Micah got us off to a great start tonight by hitting several big shots early in the game,” Swank said of his son. “He really stepped up tonight, not only with his scoring but also with his passing.”
Swank scored the first 12 points for Pratt as the Greenbacks led 12-7 midway through the first quarter. The Indians cut the lead back to three but Austin McClain buried a 12-foot shot and the advantage was back to five.
Medicine Lodge hit their second three of the quarter to get within two points with 2:42 left. Skylar Dear answered 11 seconds later with his own 3-point shot. The Indians got the next five pints to tie the game but Skylar scored with seven seconds left in the quarter and Pratt was up 19-17.
Medicine Lodge took the lead on a free throw less than two minutes into the second quarter. B.J. Dean put the Greenbacks back ahead with a three and his brother nailed one also and Pratt was up 25-20 with 5:13 left.
The Indians went on a 6-point run over the next three minutes to take back the lead but Swank got a field goal and Pratt was ahead. Payson Maydew made a free throw late in the quarter and the Greenbacks headed to the locker room with a 2-point lead 28-26.
Swank gpt a basket just 10 seconds into the third quarter but Medicine Lodge answered quickly before Swank would hit another 3-point shot and with less than a minute into the quarter Pratt was back on top by five.
The Indians went on another 6-point run over three minutes span before Dylan Besser made a lay-up. After an Indian 3-point shot Swank mase two free throws and got a basket before Skylar got the lead back to five points with a 3-point shot with two minutes left in the quarter. A Medicine Lodge 3-point shot with 30 seconds left made it 42-40 Pratt going into the fourth quarter.
The Indians got a basket after a Swank free throw to get back within one point. Swank pushed the lead back to four with a 3-point shot but the Indians answered that with one of their own.
With just under four minutes left in the game Medicine Lodge took the lead on a pair of free throws. On the following possession Maydew got a basket and Pratt was back on top. The lead again switched sides as the Indians got a pair of free throws. Swank made two free throws with three minutes left to give the lead back to Pratt but Medicine Lodge would again go ahead on another two free throws.
With 2:23 left in the game Swank again put Pratt back in front but Medicine Lodge was not done. They got a basket with 1:37 left for a 53-52 lead. Thirty seconds later Swank would make his fourth 3-point shot of the night and Pratt went back in front for the last time 55-53.
The Indians made one of two free throws with 55 seconds left in regulation before they got two shots in the last five seconds of the game but neither went in and Pratt improved to 11-0 on the year.
“I was so proud of our team, our wonderful student body cheering section and all the green in the stands. It truly inspires our kids each and every night,” Swank said. “Our kids played with a lot of tenacity and toughness tonight.
“BJ and Payson battled the tall physical Medicine Lodge team on the boards. They both were warriors battling against much taller opponents tonight. Skylar Dean continued his trend of hitting opportunistic big shots. He has really stepped up his game since Christmas.
“This tournament provided us with three tough games against excellent competition. Our bench provided some great depth. Austin McClain continues each night to give us a spark as our sixth man. Thomas Mayberry and Grayson Hostetler both had very strong games this weekend vs. Macksville. Their contributions were vital to our success.”
Tuesday the Greenbacks will have a re-match on the semifinal game as the Macksville Mustangs come to town for a 7:30 tip.
