Hettinger 4, Regent 2: 1992 North Dakota boys basketball game

• Report rights infringement
• published: 02 Feb 2012
• views: 6327

Hettinger 4, Regent 2 On Feb. 27, 1992, the Regent Rangers boys basketball team employed an unusual strategy in an attempt to defeat the Hettinger Black Devils in the opening round of the District 24 boys basketball tournament in Bowman, N.D. Using the team's four-corners offense, Rangers head coach Curt Honeyman told his players to hold onto the ball as long as they could in an attempt to stall and keep the ball out of the hands of the bigger and more athletic Black Devils. The result was something no one expected. Hettinger's Brent Earsley scored on its opening possession and Regent began employing their four-corners stall ball immediately, holding the ball until the final shot of the first quarter, which was missed by Steven Wiseman. For the most part, Hettinger head coach John Butterfield allowed his players not to closely guard the Regent players. Finally, as time expired in the second quarter, the Rangers scored on Ryan Kudrna's flailing put-back shot in the paint. At halftime, the game was tied 2-2. Hettinger came out and scored on 6-foot-7 center Jeremy Vliem's shot in the post on its first possession of the third quarter and again, the Rangers held the ball. Jason Monke missed a would-be tying shot from the right baseline at the end of the third quarter, which set up a much more intense fourth quarter. Regent held the ball for the first 7 minutes of the fourth quarter and then called a time out. With 20 seconds remaining, Brent Earsley forced a steal and went in for a layup. However, Kudrna fouled him before the shot. Hettinger tried inbounding the ball twice and running off time, only to have it stolen on the second in-bounds attempt. The Rangers called a time out with 18 seconds remaining and entrusted the game to sophomore standout Scott Sheldon. Sheldon, a 6-foot-3 future Mr. Basketball candidate, held for the final shot, only to pass up what he now believes was an open 3-point jump shot from the right wing before dribbling into a defensive trap by three Hettinger players. He was called for traveling as time expired and Hettinger held on to win. The game made international sports news in the days following it being played. Hettinger went on to take runner-up in the District 24 tournament and Regent won its next three games to finish in third place. However, the Rangers' season ended at the tournament because that season's complicated "power points" rules allowed District 24 to send only its top two teams to the Region 8 tournament. Regent and state champion Munich were the only North Dakota Class B teams to win their final three games of the 1991-92 season.

Hettinger 4, Regent 2: 1992 North Dakota boys basketball game

• Report rights infringement
• published: 02 Feb 2012
• views: 6327

Hettinger 4, Regent 2 On Feb. 27, 1992, the Regent Rangers boys basketball team employed an unusual strategy in an attempt to defeat the Hettinger Black Devils in the opening round of the District 24 boys basketball tournament in Bowman, N.D. Using the team's four-corners offense, Rangers head coach Curt Honeyman told his players to hold onto the ball as long as they could in an attempt to stall and keep the ball out of the hands of the bigger and more athletic Black Devils. The result was something no one expected. Hettinger's Brent Earsley scored on its opening possession and Regent began employing their four-corners stall ball immediately, holding the ball until the final shot of the first quarter, which was missed by Steven Wiseman. For the most part, Hettinger head coach John Butterfield allowed his players not to closely guard the Regent players. Finally, as time expired in the second quarter, the Rangers scored on Ryan Kudrna's flailing put-back shot in the paint. At halftime, the game was tied 2-2. Hettinger came out and scored on 6-foot-7 center Jeremy Vliem's shot in the post on its first possession of the third quarter and again, the Rangers held the ball. Jason Monke missed a would-be tying shot from the right baseline at the end of the third quarter, which set up a much more intense fourth quarter. Regent held the ball for the first 7 minutes of the fourth quarter and then called a time out. With 20 seconds remaining, Brent Earsley forced a steal and went in for a layup. However, Kudrna fouled him before the shot. Hettinger tried inbounding the ball twice and running off time, only to have it stolen on the second in-bounds attempt. The Rangers called a time out with 18 seconds remaining and entrusted the game to sophomore standout Scott Sheldon. Sheldon, a 6-foot-3 future Mr. Basketball candidate, held for the final shot, only to pass up what he now believes was an open 3-point jump shot from the right wing before dribbling into a defensive trap by three Hettinger players. He was called for traveling as time expired and Hettinger held on to win. The game made international sports news in the days following it being played. Hettinger went on to take runner-up in the District 24 tournament and Regent won its next three games to finish in third place. However, the Rangers' season ended at the tournament because that season's complicated "power points" rules allowed District 24 to send only its top two teams to the Region 8 tournament. Regent and state champion Munich were the only North Dakota Class B teams to win their final three games of the 1991-92 season.