Live from Park Hills: Bernie beats South Iron, 60-58

Bernie led 22-20 after one period but South Iron came up with a 12-point run in the second quarter to take a 36-24 lead.

Bernie rallied in th final 30 seconds to avoid getting blown out of the building by halftime, after South Iron had the ball and a chance to wait on the last shot.

Instead, the fast pace continued, and Jake Welch hit a 3-pointer with 20 seconds left, and then scored on a basket (and foul) with 1.8 seconds left. He missed the free throw but still brought his team back within seven before intermission.

I spoke with Sikeston coach Gregg Holifield on the way up -- thus my late arrival. Holifield said he had received a text message from Nutt last night but already was asleep, and he responded earlier today but had not heard back from Nutt.

Holifield said the message did not discuss the SEMO position, nor had he been offered a position as an assistant coach. In fact, Holifield said he didn't know yet who the coach was going to be.

Bernie continues to close the gap, 43-39 with 1:27 to play in the third, but Welch just missed a shot and the ball went out of bounds to South Iron.

Jake Welch knocked down a 3 with 50 seconds to play, and Bernie had the ball for a final possession.

Zach Curry's 3 rips the net at the buzzer sounds.

End 3Q: Bernie 45, South Iron 43.

Bernie has pushed the lead to six, 51-45.

Big play was a steal by Curry, who battled a South Iron player down the court for the ball, ended up with it at his feet and passed to Owens for a layin.

South Iron has closed to 52-49.

I've been told Bernie is 4-for-11 on free throws.

Curry just made another nice feed, hitting Daniel Becking inside for a basket.

54-49 Bernie, 4:09 to go.

You can tell it's SEMO officials. They're letting them play tonight.

Bernie has a 56-51 lead with 2:25 to go (and the ball).

A scramble on the floor after a missed SI shot ended up with the ball in Jake Welch's hands, who saw the 2-on-0 at the other end of the floor and winged the ball up to Owens for a layup.

SI's Will Sutton is a handful on the other end. He scored on a rebound to make it 56-53, but just committed his fourth foul.

Quinton Stevens, 2-2 FTs. Bernie 58-53, 1:43 to go.

Bernie puts up a nice defensive stand but can't maintain possession after Sutton missed a shot. Cody Smith's 3 cuts the lead to 58-56.

South Iron has some fouls to burn and they just did after Stevens got loose for a long pass to the other end of the floor.

Bernie takes two timeouts trying to inbound with 49.4 seconds to play.

South Iron fouls immediately, and Bernie then turns it over on the next inbound attempt.

South Iron ties it 58-58 with 20 seconds left on a basket inside.

Owens hits a long 2-pointer to give Bernie a 60-58 lead.

The ball hit the front of the rim and then fell through.

SI had enough thought to call a timeout with :00.5 to go.

South Iron fires a long pass to Sutton, who turns but loses control of the ball.

Bernie wins, 60-58.