Delta boys basketball continued to make its 2022-23 season more memorable, battling back down five with around 4:30 to play, culminating with James Ruple’s shot at the buzzer to give them a 35-34 victory at Swanton Friday night in Northwest Ohio Athletic League action.
“It felt amazing. It was great,” Ruple said of hitting the game-winner. “I mean our team played hard all game, going from down five most of the game…we came back. That was like the first lead we had in the second half.
“It was just a great win for our team.”
A Cole Mitchey 3-pointer for Swanton put the Bulldogs up 34-29 with 4:35 remaining. However, those would be the last points scored in the contest by the home team.
A pair of missed front-ends of the bonus also hindered Swanton down the stretch.
Bryar Knapp’s two free throws then a basket inside by Ruple brought the Panthers within one, 34-33, with 1:41 to go. The second straight missed front-end of a 1-and-1 allowed the Panthers the final shot with under 25 seconds left.
They came up short on a triple try, but Bryce Gillen was able to save the ball from going out of bounds and it made its way to Ruple on the left wing, and the senior got the mid-range jumper to drop for the win.
“We were down all game. We knew it was gonna come down to the very last play. And that’s kind of what we’ve preached the whole year — ever since these kids have been in the program — you play until the buzzer goes off,” said Delta coach Matt Brighton. “Bryce Gillen didn’t have the best shooting game tonight, but he made that play that really put us over. And James made the big shot, but we can’t forget about Bryce Gillen going and getting that loose ball.”
According to Ruple, the Panthers’ perseverance and will to win were key in getting the comeback victory.
“They (Swanton) have a lot of shooters and a lot of playmakers. But, we just went out there and we played as hard as we could. When it comes down to it, the hardest working…
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