In a most improbable ending, one that not even Hollywood could dream up, the Central men’s basketball team hit a last-second shot to be Luther on Saturday, 70 – 69. The Dutch had a five-point lead with about a minute left, before the Norse hit consecutive three’s to take a lead with about 30 seconds left. Down by one, Nile Eckermann drove to the lane and got tied up, which gave the ball back to Luther with 7.5 seconds remaining and Central with just three team fouls. After a pair of Dutch personals, an errant inbounds pass found the arms of Colby Taylor for a steal. He fed Tate Handsaker, who nailed a wide-open 19-footer with 0.6 on the clock and gave the Dutch the win. Kyle Newendorp finished with a game-high 17 points, as Central improves to 13 – 10 on the season, and are now 6 – 6 in the Iowa Conference. The win clinched a spot in the postseason tournament for the Dutch. The depleted Dutch women were outplayed, 63 – 44. Central was led by Jackie Kriegel’s eight points and eight rebounds. They are next in action for a doubleheader on Wednesday inside the P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium against Loras.

Tags: ,