Jiskra’s buzzer beater lifts LP boys over GM
Published 11:03 pm Monday, February 9, 2015
LYLE — Two weeks ago Lyle-Pacelli junior Noah Jiskra was laying on the court in pain and he was eventually taken away on a stretcher with a serious concussion.
On Monday Jiskra was laid out on the gym floor in Lyle again. Except it was for a much better reason.
Jiskra had been mobbed by his teammates and taken to the floor after he drilled a contested baseline buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the Athletics a 62-60 win over Grand Meadow in Lyle Gym. Jiskra’s game-winning 3-pointer came on a drive and dish by Jordan Hart.
“We never had doubt. We always had a positive outlook on this game,” Jiskra said. “It’s nice to have that opportunity [for the game winner]. Jordan Hart was a great teammate and he gave it up to me. I was hoping to give him a good win on senior night.”
The game came down to a frantic finish as there were six lead changes in the last two minutes. Hart, who had 22 points, 13 rebounds and two blocked shots, scored off an offensive rebound with 18 seconds left to give LP a 59-58 lead and Landon Jacobson gave GM a 60-59 lead with 9.4 seconds left when he drove for a score.
“To win at the last second with both teams executing, I think it was a fun game to watch and I think both teams are better for it,” LP head coach Dean DeBoer said. “We let it play out and we wanted Jordan to get the ball in space and he made the right play. He dished it out to Noah and Noah made a great play to knock down the shot.”
GM (17-7 overall, 15-4 SEC) led 34-25 early in the second half after a score by Cody Oujulu, but the Athletics (17-7 overall, 15-4 SEC) were able to claw back into the game. GM head coach Bob Burmester said he was glad his team
was able to execute down the stretch and he credited LP for answering.
“It was one of those games where it came down to whoever had the ball last was going to win,” Burmester said. “Credit to those guys, they made a heck of a play. We couldn’t have played much better defense. We almost got a tip on the ball.”
The win gives the Athletics an inside track on the No. 3 seed in Section 1A West and it gives them a chance to clinch a share of the SEC West title. Hart said he’s excited to see what else the Athletics can do this year.
“I’m pumped. It’s my last year and I want to go as far as I can. I love playing with this team. It’s amazing,” he said. “From the start [tonight] we came in thinking we weren’t going to lay an egg and we were going to be aggressive. We couldn’t lose to them twice.”
For Jiskra, who finished with 17 points and eight rebounds, he’s happy to be playing basketball again after suffering a concussion that kept him out of all team activities for awhile. Hitting a game-winning shot was just icing on the cake.
“It feels amazing,” Jiskra said. “I was kind of worried when [the concussion] first happened, but I took care of myself and I took a lot of unnecessary precautions. I’m glad I’m back with the team.”
DeBoer is glad to see Jiskra back with the team as well.
“Noah’s done everything that he was supposed to do,” DeBoer said. “He took it easy for a week and he didn’t push himself. I know how much basketball means to him and his family and for him to come out and make a play like that at the end of the game is great for him.”
GM 27 33 — 60
LP 21 41 — 62
LP scoring: Jordan Hart, 22; Noah Jiskra, 17; Jordan Cotter, 13; Braden Kocer, 6; Lee Bauer, 2; Brennen Ruis, 2; free throws: 72 percent (13-for-18); rebounds: 39 (Hart, 13); turnovers: 22
GM scoring: Landon Jacobson, 14; Michael Stejskal, 14; Terrell Rieken, 13; Reid Buschmann, 6; Connor King, 6; Cody Ojulu, 4; Wes Ojulu, 3; free throws: 66 percent (8-for-12); rebounds: 33 (Rieken, 12); turnovers: 13