Royals get past Van Buren in OT

BROSELEY — The Twin Rivers boys basketball team was in a dogfight with Van Buren on Thursday — and it took some extra basketball as the Royals came out on top with a gritty 75-67 win in overtime.

“We fought through adversity,” Twin Rivers coach Austin Birmingham said. “After being up late in the fourth, losing it, then getting it back in overtime, it shows these kids can fight through adversity.”

Luke Hester and Chadyn Bell combined for 41 points as Hester scored 21 and Bell had 20 — while Eli Hequemberg contributed 18 points in the win, hitting some key buckets down the stretch in the second half.

“They followed the game plan taking advantage of the mismatch in the paint,” Birmingham said. “Luke was able to play off of it when he wasn’t doubled and he could kick it out to the open man or take it himself.”

The Royals (6-3) had a 61-56 lead with 52 seconds remaining in regulation, but Van Buren (2-3) was able to create some turnovers and rattle off five points in 30 seconds to tie it up at 61.

The Bulldogs had a chance to win it but was unable to convert, allowing Twin Rivers to attempt a halfcourt chance at the buzzer that fell just short.

During the Bulldogs’ final push in the fourth, Hester went up to contend the shot and his hand hit the net, which made Van Buren want a goaltending call but they didn’t get it.

When the extra four minutes tipped off, Van Buren got out in front with a couple of early buckets, but Twin Rivers was able to rattle off a 7-0 run to make Van Buren burn a timeout with 1:42 on the clock.

Coming out of the timeout the Royals were able to hold the Bulldogs to only two points while they were able to put it away from the charity stripe for the win.

The Royals will have a short break for Christmas before getting right back into it with the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament starting Thursday, Dec. 26.

“We play Richland, which is another ranked team in Class 1 and they just had a big win over Dexter,” Birmingham said. “I think that one will be another barn burner like this one was.”

That game will tip off at 11:15 a.m. in Bloomfield.