close

Mustangs nip Ringgold on Swartz’ 3-point play

By The 2 min read
1 / 4

Christine Pocratsky

Laurel Highlands’ Jake Swartz (13) and Ringgold’s Anthony Pampena (24) and Jarid Yahnite (20) battle for a rebound during Tuesday’s game at Laurel Highlands. Swartz converted a three-point play with 5.4 seconds left to give the Mustangs a 46-44 win.

2 / 4

Laurel Highlands' Cameron Holt (5) goes up for two against Ringgold's Dakota Browning during Tuesday evening's game at Laurel Highlands.

3 / 4

Christine Pocratsky

Laurel Highlands’ Bryce Laskey (dribbling) was selected to the Herald-Standard All-Area boys basketball team, as was Ringgold’s Dakota Browning (34).

4 / 4

Laurel Highlands' Hudson Novak (24) goes up for two against Ringgold's Anthony Pampena (24) during Tuesday's Section 4-AAA game at Laurel Highlands.

Jake Swartz converted a three-point play with 5.4 seconds remaining to give Laurel Highlands a tense, 46-44, victory over visiting Ringgold in a Section 4-AAA boys basketball battle on Tuesday night.

Swartz scored nine of his game-high 14 points in the second half. Chayton Burchick also had 14 for coach Rick Hauger’s Mustangs (3-2, 2-1), who are getting used to playing nail-biters.

“Four of our five games have been decided at the last second,” Hauger said. “I’ve never had a run of close games like that.”

LH has split those four games, which have been decided by a combined eight points.

Laurel Highlands led 12-9, 22-21 and 32-29 at the breaks.

The Rams led 44-43 before Swartz was fouled as he scored and made the free throw to put LH up by two.

“That’s what we were hoping to be able to do was get it to Jake,” Hauger said. “The kids moved the ball nice, got a good passing angle, got it in to him and Jake finished the job.”

Ringgold inbounded but was fouled with 2.9 seconds left.

“We had a foul to give and used it,” Hauger said.

The Rams misfired on a rushed final shot and the Mustangs had the victory, despite losing starting guard Bryce Laskey to an ankle injury early in the game.

“We had to do some reshuffling after that, but the kids hung in there tonight,” Hauger said. “It was a battle the whole way and came down to the last shot … again.”

Dakota Browning led the Rams with 11 points and George Martin had 10.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $4.79/week.

Subscribe Today