Grain Valley Boys district run ends in quadruple overtime battle

​by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News

​
COLUMBIA, Mo. - During a 19-year coaching career, Grain Valley High School's Andy Herbert never experienced a roller-coaster-ride of emotions like he experienced Wednesday night at Columbia Battle High School.

His Eagles forced overtime with a remarkable 11-4 fourth-quarter advantage that resulted in a 51-51 tie in regulation. 

The game went four overtimes - a first for the Grain Valley boys program - and ended with a late Columbia Battle layup that led to a 78-77 Class 6 District 7 loss for Grain Valley.

After the game, Coach Herbert and his son Eli was they were exhausted.

"How do I feel?" asked Coach Herbert, "proud of my guys and exhausted. For the first time in my 19 years of coaching, and back when I played basketball, I never saw anything like this game. Mentally, our kids were exhausted. It was a surreal experience after the game. But there was also a great feeling of pride. We didn't win the game, but we left everything on the court. We could not have played harder than we did tonight."

Eli, who led the Eagles with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, said it was a tough loss, but left him and teammates with a sense of accomplishment.

"It stings," Eli said, "and this loss is going to sting for a while. But looking back on it, we took the No. 3 seed, who was playing on their home court, to four overtimes, after finding a way to tie the game in regulation. And it was exhausting.

"We lost by one, and I felt like we should have won the game. But they won the game, you have to respect that. I know one thing - everyone who was in the gym tonight saw a game they will never forget."

The Eagles led 16-14 after one quarter. The score was tied 27-all at the half. The Spartans took a 47-40 lead into the final eight minutes of play when Grain Valley began its comeback.

Hitting key free throws down the stretch, Grain Valley tied the game to set the stage for a record-breaking night of dramatic overtime baskets and free throws.

Each team scored four points in the first overtime and Eli hit a buzzer beater in the second overtime to set the stage for a third overtime.

After a 6-6 third overtime period, an Aaron Barr free throw in the closing seconds gave the Eagles a 77-76 lead. But the Spartans hit the game winner to end a marathon night of district basketball.

"There was a sadness after the game - and there still is today," Eli said, "but it's not like we got crushed. We did all we could to win the game, and we came up a point short. I'm so proud of our team."