3…2….1…it’s up…..it’s IN!

Cale Beckman’s buzzer beating three pointer led the Cotter boys 8th grade basketball team to a dramatic victory 35-32 over the Lewiston-Altura Cardinals in the small gym at John Nett Rec Center on Monday, January 30.

The game started well for the Ramblers as they opened up an early lead, but the Cardinals started to rally and it was a two point game at half.

The Cardinals half court zone slowed the pace of play down and there were some long possessions and the game stayed close throughout the 2nd half.  With a little over a minute to go the Cards led 30-25 when Charlie Reilly fed an inside pass to Connor Yocum who scored and Cotter called a timeout, down by 3.

On the next possession Yocum was called for his 5th foul and L-A went to the line.  The free throw was missed and Reilly gathered the rebound and with about 15 seconds left Beckman launched a 3 that found the mark, L-A missed a shot at the buzzer at the game went to overtime.

Everyone now knew it would come down to the wire, and everyone knew someone had to be the hero, and Cale Beckman answered that call.

After Reilly and Nathan Stanislawski each made one of two free throws to give Cotter the lead, L-A took a timeout and scored on a layup with about 10 seconds left.

Reilly made a move to split the zone, the ball got knocked away, and, with few seconds left Beckman alertly gathered the loose ball, took a quick dribble and fired.  The shot banked in, the buzzer sounded and the crowd went nuts.

“I really have no idea how it went, it was just a big surprise to me,” Beckman said.

“It was a pretty deep shot and he banked it, so it was pretty lucky, but I’m glad he made it,” Reilly added.

“There are fewer true buzzer beaters in basketball than you might think and that one was special.  The team has been fighting hard and playing better and Cale had an excellent game, so it was nice to see he and his teammates get rewarded, especially at home.  Connor Yocum had one like that in an 8th grade game last year, and those are two I will remember,” coach Mike Costello said.

It was the 8th grade team’s third win in their last four games, they play on the road at La Crescent on February 2.