March 28, 2024

Monarchs outlast Panthers in double-overtime

DENISON – Creston’s 12-6 fourth quarter put a scare in Denison-Schleswig on Jan. 7, but the host Monarchs escaped with a 55-54 win in double overtime.

Whitlee Auen sealed the game by making 1-of-2 free throws and the Panthers went 0-2 at the line with 0.3 seconds remaining.

“It was a really good high school basketball game,” Creston head coach Tony Neubauer said. “We got off to a slow start in the first half, missed a lot of shots and Doryn got into foul trouble and had to sit for most of the first half.”

The Monarchs led 15-10 after the first quarter and 26-20 at halftime.

Neither team shot well, Creston made 33.3% of their field goals and Denison-Schleswig made 27.1% of theirs.

Creston trailed by 11 in the third but battled back.

“The kids worked their tails off to get back in the game,” Neubauer said. “Just really proud of our kids effort, it’s hard to a lose a one-point game in that type of battle but we’re getting better.”

Bri Fields led the Panthers in scoring with 20 points. Doryn Paup and Morgan Driskell each contributed 12 points for Creston.

Driskell’s 12 points is her best scoring outing in the season.

“Morgan is really steady defensively and takes care of the basketball,” Neubauer said. “She is a good shooter when she’s confident and she made some huge threes for us.”