Five Years AGO!
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Comeback Comets: Pillsbury rallies from 18-point deficit to win title
By Owatonna Peoples Press
Created 02/18/2007 - 00:00
Submitted by Owatonna People... on Sun, 02/18/2007 - 00:00
By DEREK SULLIVAN
Press sports editor
OWATONNA - Six-foot-5 Pillsbury forward Kyle Courtney picked the perfect time for his first 3-pointer of the season.
The senior hit a 21-foot jump shot from the left corner with one second on the shot clock and 26 seconds left in the third overtime and the game tied. The shot gave Pillsbury a lead it would not relinquish. The Comets won 91-86 against North Central University in the NCCAA North Central Region final Saturday afternoon at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College.
"I was just hanging out in the corner with four seconds left (on the shot clock) and Jack (Arneson) found me," Courtney said. "It felt good. I thought it was going in."
The victory means Pillsbury (22-5) will play in the NCCAA National Tournament next month in Oklahoma City, Okla. It will be the first appearance in the 12-team tourney since 2001.
The Comets rallied from a 18-point (53-25) deficit with 15 minutes left and a five-point deficit (86-81) with 2:29 left in the third overtime. Pillsbury finished the game with 3-pointers from Ray Miller and Courtney and two free throws from Arneson.
"I can't believe it. It was an unbelievable game," said Pillsbury head coach Keith Champion. "I was really worried when they got up by five points in overtime."
Tim Miller led the Comets with 35 points and 17 rebounds. The 6-foot-5 senior cut open his chin during the first half and played most on the game with a bandage taped to his face.
"Tim is real special," Courtney said. "He's really athletic and he's just starting to realize how good he can be. Tim has really stepped up these last couple weeks."
Pillsbury tied the game in regulation at 66-66 on a pass from Arneson, who finished with 10 assists, to Courtney for a layup with 1:25 left. Courtney had a chance to give the Comets the lead with 30 seconds left, but his shot was blocked. North Central point guard Levi Meyers' layup attempt drew only iron at the buzzer.
In the first overtime, Tim Miller hit a five-foot jump shot with 42 seconds left to tie the game at 74-74. Arneson had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but his fade away bounced off the rim.
Arneson tied the game at 81-81 in the second overtime with a 15-foot jump shot with two seconds left. Meyers 30-foot shot at the buzzer bounced off backcourt and almost ended the game.
The Rams scored the first five points of the third overtime. Two free throws by Courtney pulled the Comets within 86-83 with 2:08 left. Ray Miller, who was named North Central Region Most Valuable Player after the game, hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game to tie the contest at 86-86 with 1:29 left. Miller shot only 4-of-17 from the field and the Rams worked hard to shut down the all-region shooting guard.
"They had guys in my face the whole time," Ray Miller said. "My team does a good job of getting me open. But if I don't score, it doesn't matter. We have guys that can play and we did it today."
Courtney's three gave the Comets the lead and North Central forward Chris Johnson's 3-point attempt to tie the game with 10 seconds left bounced off the rim and Tim Miller secured the rebound and quickly found Arneson, who was fouled. Arneson hit both free throws to end the scoring. The overflow crowd rushed onto the court and celebrated with Comets players. It was the last home game for seniors Tim Miller, Ray Miller and Courtney.
"It was real special," Courtney said. "When I came here, Pillsbury wasn't that good, but we stuck with it and worked hard. All three of us and Coach Champion; it was special."
Champion, who was named region Coach of the Year, didn't go to his bench in the three overtimes. All five starters played at least 46 minutes. Ray Miller said they could have played a lot longer.
"It was just the adrenaline," Miller said. We may have been tired, but we didn't feel it. We wanted this so bad."
Pillsbury scoring: (FG-FGA FT FTA TP) Tim Miller 11-19 12-17 35 (17 rebounds), Kyle Courtney 6-11 4-4 (11 rebounds), Jack Arneson 4-16 4-5 (10 assists), Ray Miller 4-17 0-0 12, Jacob Miller 3-6 0-2 7; Marcus Troy 2-6 1-2 7. 3-pointers: Ray Miller 4, Troy 2, Tim Miller, Kyle Courtney, Arneson, Jacob Miller. Half-time score: NC 44-33 End of regulation 66-66, First OT 74-74, Second OT 81-81.
Press sports editor
OWATONNA - Six-foot-5 Pillsbury forward Kyle Courtney picked the perfect time for his first 3-pointer of the season.
The senior hit a 21-foot jump shot from the left corner with one second on the shot clock and 26 seconds left in the third overtime and the game tied. The shot gave Pillsbury a lead it would not relinquish. The Comets won 91-86 against North Central University in the NCCAA North Central Region final Saturday afternoon at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College.
"I was just hanging out in the corner with four seconds left (on the shot clock) and Jack (Arneson) found me," Courtney said. "It felt good. I thought it was going in."
The victory means Pillsbury (22-5) will play in the NCCAA National Tournament next month in Oklahoma City, Okla. It will be the first appearance in the 12-team tourney since 2001.
The Comets rallied from a 18-point (53-25) deficit with 15 minutes left and a five-point deficit (86-81) with 2:29 left in the third overtime. Pillsbury finished the game with 3-pointers from Ray Miller and Courtney and two free throws from Arneson.
"I can't believe it. It was an unbelievable game," said Pillsbury head coach Keith Champion. "I was really worried when they got up by five points in overtime."
Tim Miller led the Comets with 35 points and 17 rebounds. The 6-foot-5 senior cut open his chin during the first half and played most on the game with a bandage taped to his face.
"Tim is real special," Courtney said. "He's really athletic and he's just starting to realize how good he can be. Tim has really stepped up these last couple weeks."
Pillsbury tied the game in regulation at 66-66 on a pass from Arneson, who finished with 10 assists, to Courtney for a layup with 1:25 left. Courtney had a chance to give the Comets the lead with 30 seconds left, but his shot was blocked. North Central point guard Levi Meyers' layup attempt drew only iron at the buzzer.
In the first overtime, Tim Miller hit a five-foot jump shot with 42 seconds left to tie the game at 74-74. Arneson had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but his fade away bounced off the rim.
Arneson tied the game at 81-81 in the second overtime with a 15-foot jump shot with two seconds left. Meyers 30-foot shot at the buzzer bounced off backcourt and almost ended the game.
The Rams scored the first five points of the third overtime. Two free throws by Courtney pulled the Comets within 86-83 with 2:08 left. Ray Miller, who was named North Central Region Most Valuable Player after the game, hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game to tie the contest at 86-86 with 1:29 left. Miller shot only 4-of-17 from the field and the Rams worked hard to shut down the all-region shooting guard.
"They had guys in my face the whole time," Ray Miller said. "My team does a good job of getting me open. But if I don't score, it doesn't matter. We have guys that can play and we did it today."
Courtney's three gave the Comets the lead and North Central forward Chris Johnson's 3-point attempt to tie the game with 10 seconds left bounced off the rim and Tim Miller secured the rebound and quickly found Arneson, who was fouled. Arneson hit both free throws to end the scoring. The overflow crowd rushed onto the court and celebrated with Comets players. It was the last home game for seniors Tim Miller, Ray Miller and Courtney.
"It was real special," Courtney said. "When I came here, Pillsbury wasn't that good, but we stuck with it and worked hard. All three of us and Coach Champion; it was special."
Champion, who was named region Coach of the Year, didn't go to his bench in the three overtimes. All five starters played at least 46 minutes. Ray Miller said they could have played a lot longer.
"It was just the adrenaline," Miller said. We may have been tired, but we didn't feel it. We wanted this so bad."
Pillsbury scoring: (FG-FGA FT FTA TP) Tim Miller 11-19 12-17 35 (17 rebounds), Kyle Courtney 6-11 4-4 (11 rebounds), Jack Arneson 4-16 4-5 (10 assists), Ray Miller 4-17 0-0 12, Jacob Miller 3-6 0-2 7; Marcus Troy 2-6 1-2 7. 3-pointers: Ray Miller 4, Troy 2, Tim Miller, Kyle Courtney, Arneson, Jacob Miller. Half-time score: NC 44-33 End of regulation 66-66, First OT 74-74, Second OT 81-81.
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