Late free throws clinch Crusaders victory

BUHLER – Dylan Brown woke up Buhler’s dormant offense after the Crusaders struggled to find scoring in the first half.

Buhler needed another jolt after resting too comfortably with a 15-point second half lead. After Grant Owens split a pair at the free throw line with 18.8 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to make it a two possession game, Brown added the finishing touches on back-to-back plays grabbing a defensive rebound, then calmly knocking down a pair 5.3 seconds remaining on the shot clock.

Brown scored 20 and Owens added 11 to secure an opening night 56-50 win against Goddard, a team that sunk the hearts of Buhler on a last second Christian Laettner shot a season ago.

“We didn’t even talk about that,” said Buhler coach Ryan Swanson as he exhaled, reminiscing the shot.

Buhler was finally able to exhale at the final buzzer, knowing they let a 37-22 lead dwindle down to three after Goddard outscored the Crusaders 28-19 in the fourth quarter.

“Coach always wants us to finish out the game, and I take that personal,” Brown said. “I want to lead the team and I think if they’re going to come back like that, then I thought the way I needed to lead this time was to take it myself.”

A Brown corner three-pointer early in the third quarter opened up the first double digit lead for either team before a three-point play by Goddard’s Ian McSwain –who finished the game with 14 points – dropped the score back down to eight. The Crusaders again responded, this time with a put back by Owens to anwser right back.

Owens found room again inside, knocking down the shot with the foul call, but he was unable to complete the three-point play as the Crusaders took a 34-20 lead with 1:09 to play in the third quarter.

A corner trey by Adam Schrag put Buhler ahead by 15 before the Goddard comeback.

Goddard kept fighting in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead back to nine after a three-point play by Cole Gordon. The Lions kept grinding to cut it to five when Jeremiah Crawford laid in a tough shot to make it a 47-42 ball game with under three minutes to play.

Owens soon broke free from the cluster at midcourt before he was fouled and eventually going 1-of-2 at the line as Buhler took a 54-50 lead.

“For Grant to step up and hit that last free throw, I thought he showed a lot of courage right there to make that,” Swanson said. “Those guys stepped up. They were big.”

BUHLER 56 GODDARD 50

Buhler;9;12;16;19;--;56

Goddard;7;7;8;28;--;50

GODDARD 61 BUHLER 35

OWENS OWNING: Buhler sophomore Alyvia Ownes got off to a hot start for the Crusaders, scoring 13 of the first 16 points for the Crusaders. Owens’ first shot came on a pretty find underneath the basket by Haley Miller on a bounce pass. Owens also delivered a swatting block in the paint that caused the student section to erupt. Owens scored 14 first half points, finishing the game with 18.

WARNER’S HOME: In 2015, the Buhler girls made their first state-tournament appearance since 2005, when then Brittany Hines was a starting guard for the state champions. Warner was a 2007 Buhler graduate and she made her debut as the head coach for her alma mater Tuesday night.

KEPT PACE: The Crusaders hung tight against a Goddard team that won 16 games a season ago. Buhler trailed 29-18 in a contest that could’ve resulted in a shorter deficit if not for the 10 first half turnovers.

MIGHTY LION: No matter what Buhler could come up with, the Crusaders could not tame Kade Hackerott the Goddard sophomore finished the game with 22 points, knocking down 4 of 8 three-pointers in the game.

NEXT: Buhler (0-1) takes to the road to take on Salina South.

Hackerott, Goddard spoils Warner's debut