Boys

The defense for Savage’s boys basketball team stepped up when the game was on the line as Savage edged Brockton, 59-57, in double overtime Thursday.

Three times Brockton had chances to win the game with a final possession, but on each occasion Savage’s defense prevented a quality shot. Brockton’s first opportunity came with the District 2-C contest deadlocked at 47-47 in regulation. Savage tied the game with 30 seconds left on a three-point play by Matt Trzinski. Brockton held the ball for a final shot but, despite calling a time out to set up a play with 11 seconds remaining, the shot by Sean Black Dog at the buzzer came from way behind the three-point stripe.

Brockton led 55-50 in the first overtime, but Savage tied the game on a 12-footer by Colin Basta with 1:01 left and a three-pointer by Basta with 55 seconds remaining. Brockton held the ball again but lost the ball on a backcourt violation with one second on the clock.

In the second overtime, a steal and layup by Chris Reynolds and a free throw by Braden Ler put Savage up by a 58-55 margin. Brockton stayed alive on a tip-in by Michael Thomas with 18 seconds left. After Reynolds hit a free throw with nine seconds remaining, Brockton raced down looking for a win with a three but Savage’s defense didn’t allow a good attempt.

Ler, a 6-4 sophomore, led Savage with 29 points. Also scoring were Basta with nine, Trzinski with eight, Shad Stanford with seven and Reynolds with six.

Brockton’s top scorers were Jason Bird with 21, Anthony Spotted Bird with 15 and Barry Rattling Thunder with 12.

Ler dominated play inside during the first half as Savage led 13-11 at the end of the opening quarter and 28-25 at the half. Ler scored nine points in the first period and six more in the second quarter.

Brockton came back to take a 39-38 advantage in the third quarter.

Girls

Savage outscored Brockton 21-3 in the first quarter en route to a 56-18 home victory Thursday.

Savage accounted for the game’s first 10 points on a steal and layup by LaToya Neiffer, two inside hoops by Bridger Rice, two free throws by Stephanie Nollmeyer and a 12-footer by Hanna Jepsen.

After Brockton’s Waverly Bear hit a three-pointer, Savage tallied the next 11 points on a hoop by Jepsen, another basket by Rice, two free throws by Casie Ler, a drive by Nollmeyer and a three-pointer by Neiffer.

Savage outscored Brockton 12-0 in the second quarter for a 33-3 advantage. Shanae Prevost and Brittany Smith each scored four points in the period.

Savage’s top scorers were Rice with 12 and Neiffer with 10. Also scoring were Ler with nine, Prevost with eight, Nollmeyer with seven, Jepsen with four, Smith with four and Payton Phillippi with two.

Alex Fireman led Brockton with nine points.