WEST PLAINS, Mo. — Three Rivers' first Region XVI game of the season came down to the wire and unfortunately the Raiders were on the wrong end of a last-second buzzer-beater.
The Grizzlies called a timeout with than 11 seconds remaining and their plan worked as Isaiah Lewis headed to the basket and threw a pass to Tre Breland in the corner as time expired to beat Three Rivers 77-75 Wednesday night.
The Raiders had four players in double figures with Lamar Wilkerson leading the team with 22 points while Keith Kiner continued his hot play with 19 points. Shannon Strickland ended his night with 13 points off the bench and Paul Greene had 10 points.
Three Rivers, which lost by single digits for the third time, made 45% of its shots from the field while going 4-for-14 from beyond the arc and made 19 of 30 free throws.
The Raiders (6-5, 0-1 XVI) had the lead early but the Grizzlies (5-7, 1-0) were right there with them as they tied it up at 13-all in the first eight minutes of play. Both teams were eventually knotted back up at 38-all in the final seconds of the first half, but Wilkerson was able to get to the charity stripe and knock down one of his free throws to give the Raiders a one-point lead at the break.
Three Rivers started the second half with the lead, but the Grizzlies were able to catch up and take a 69-65 lead with less than 4 1/2 minutes to play. The Raiders clawed their way back, capped off with Kiner tipping it in to tie it at 73-all with 2 minutes to go.
The Grizzlies were able to get a bucket, but Kiner was able to match those two points to once again. tying it up at 75-all on a putback as the clock hit one minute.
Following a missed 3 by the Grizzlies, Kinyon Hodges missed a pull-up jumper at the foul line and a tipped rebound was eventually controlled be West Plains, which nearly threw the ball away at midcourt before a timeout.
The Raiders look to shake off the loss as they'll have another Region XVI opponent to host at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Libla Family Sports Complex against Moberly Area, which lost to Mineral Area 74-73 on Wednesday night.
Robert Augsdorfer - Daily American Republic