Tigers allow 3 games to slip from their grasp

The Mountain Home Tigers continued with their struggle to finish games, letting three more get away from them last week, two in overtime.

Columbia 57,

Mountain Home 55 (OT)

The Mountain Home Tigers and Columbia Wildcats battled back and forth last Wednesday night with Mountain Home's inability to hit free throws a contributing factor in the Wildcats leaving Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium in Mountain Home with a 57-55 overtime victory.

The Tigers were hoping for another packed house like the night before for the Lady Tigers' Blackout Night game with Columbia. While not as large, it was a vocal crowd, and the Tigers gave them plenty of excitement.

The game had five lead changes, and 12 ties, and although Mountain Home's two leads were early in the first quarter, and early in the overtime, they did manage to stay close.

Mountain Home's aggressive swarming in-your-face defense was not taken kindly by the game's officials, who whistled the Tigers for 17 first-half fouls, 12 alone in the first quarter. Yet the Tigers stay close.

After leading early, 7-4, Mountain Home lost the lead and trailed, 13-11, after a quarter.

Columbia enjoyed its biggest lead of the of the night at 30-21, with 1:14 left in the first half, but the Tigers scored the last four points of the half to go into the locker room down, 30-25.

The Wildcats built their lead to eight points, 36-28, early in the third quarter before Mountain Home cut it to four, 39-35, heading into the fourth quarter.

Columbia again stretched its lead to eight early in the fourth, but the Tigers refused to fold, rallying to tie the game at 44-44 with 58 seconds left.

The Wildcats played for a shot and missed, with Mountain Home getting the rebound and calling a timeout with 28 seconds left.

Mountain Home tried a three-point attempt, which was no good, and the rebound bounced out to Columbia's Dylan Brown, who drove the length of the court and put it in, giving the Wildcats a 46-44 lead, with 4.7 seconds left.

After a timeout, AJ Woodruff took the inbounds pass and got off a shot just inside the three-point circle that went in at the buzzer, forcing overtime.

The Mountain Home student section erupted, and a number of fans came out of the stands onto the floor after the buzzer.

A technical foul was charged against Mountain Home because of the fans on the court, which had the overtime period start with Columbia shooting two free throws, which they made, and the Wildcats getting the ball out of bounds.

Mountain Home, which entered the game making just 48 percent of their free throws on the season, hit just 32 percent (11/34) on the night. Tyler Park hit one of two to put Mountain Home up, 49-48, with 3:26 left in the overtime period.

Columbia would then make one of two free throws to tie the game at 49-49 with 3:11 left. They then hit a basket to go up, 51-49.

The best Mountain Home could do after that was tie it at 51, 53 and 55.

After a Columbia missed shot, Mountain Home got the ball and called a time out with 11.4 seconds left. Dylan Brown stole the ball and raced down for a shot and missed, but Erik Barfus was there for the put back at the buzzer, as the Wildcats exited with a 57-55 overtime victory.

"The kids played great," said Tiger coach Brion Bethel after the game.

"I wish we could have hit a few more free throws, but they blocked out, the rebounded, they ran the court, they did a really good job -- we played most of the game in foul trouble, so I've got no complaints about the way they played! Kudos to the guys off the bench, and the next man up -- no one ever complained -- yeah, we got some rough fouls, but the next guys up stepped up, they were prepared and did a great job and kept us in the ball game when we had all five of our starters on the bench, we had five guys step up, freshmen included, stepped up and played solid basketball, solid minutes -- kudos to them."

Mountain Home had three players score in double figures in the game. Christian Riedel led the way with 13 points Tyler Park netted 11, and AJ Woodruff had 11. Brion Bethel Jr. scored a season-high six points, Jarek Schetzle, who saw just limited action due to an injury, added four, Jose Rodriguez had three, and Chris Wright, A.J. Daniels and Devin Wright each scored two points.

A major game-breaker was at the free-throw line, where the Tigers managed just 11 of 34 for 32 percent, while Columbia hit 13 more (24/39) for 62 percent.

Emmett 60,

Mountain Home 55 (OT)

Mountain Home went to overtime for the third time this season, but it wasn't the charm, as they came up short to Emmett, 60-55, Friday night at Emmett.

The Tigers started slow and trailed by 13 points late in the first quarter. They whittled the deficit to four, 23-19, with 2:17 left in the first half, but trailed, 29-21, at the half.

Mountain Home managed to trim the deficit to three, 33-30, heading into the fourth quarter, and went on a 7-0 run midway through the fourth to take the lead, 44-42.

Emmett hit four straight points to go up, 46-44, but Christian Riedel hit a trey to put the Tigers up, 47-46, with 1:12 left in regulation.

Emmett hit one of two free throws to tie the game at 47-47, with 1:01 left.

Both teams had opportunities to score in the closing minute, but failed, and the game went to overtime.

Emmett scored first in the overtime period, and the Tigers were able to tie it at 49, but the Huskies built up a five point lead, and hung on for the 60-55 win over the Tigers.

"We're getting too familiar with these overtime games, but I'd like to be on the right end of one of these instead of this end of it," said Coach Bethel after the game.

"I was really proud of guys the way they stayed composed, even after getting down in that first quarter. They executed well on offense, but it just boils down right now, we've got to do the little small things -- free throws and layups."

Mountain Home had three players score in double figures at Emmett. Jarek Schetzle and Christian Riedel both scored 11, Tyler Park netted 10. AJ Woodruff added seven points, Jose Rodriguez, six, Brion Bethel, Jr. and Devin Wright each scored four, and Chris Wright had two points.

Mountain Home's free throw shooting woes continued, as they made nine of 19 (47 percent). Emmett hit 15 of 27 (56 percent) from the foul line.

Jerome 51, Mountain Home 44

The Jerome Tigers once again came from behind in the fourth quarter to down the Mountain Home Tigers, this time 51-44 Saturday night in Jerome.

Jerome led, 12-8, after a quarter, but Mountain Home went into the locker room at halftime with a 22-19 lead.

Mountain Home upped their lead to 39-31 heading into the fourth quarter, but Jerome outscored Mountain Home 20-5 in the fourth for a 51-44 win.

The team played hard," said Coach Bethel of the Jerome game. "We executed the offense great, we just couldn't hit open layups and free throws. Losing Jose Rodriguez hurt, but I was proud of the way the guys played. I think we're starting to peak at the right time."

Chris Wright and Jarek Schetzle both scored 11 points to lead Mountain Home at Jerome, for Wright, it was a new season-high. AJ Woodruff added seven points, Devin Wright scored six, Jose Rodriguez four, Christian Riedel three and Brion Bethel, Jr. scored two.

Mountain Home went to the free throw line just 12 times, converting five of them (42 percent), while Jerome was went 27 times, converting 20 (74 percent).

The loss dropped Mountain Home to 1-11 on the season. They are 1-7 in conference and start the second time through the conference schedule this week, hosting Skyview on tonight, Jan. 22, for Blackout Night, and hosting Nampa on Friday night.

"Two more tough teams," said Coach Bethel. "The hits just keep on coming."

The Mountain Home News continues its series of taking a closer look at the Mountain Home Tigers varsity boys basketball team.

AJ Woodruff

AJ Woodruff is a five-foot, seven-inch freshman. The son of Dion Woodruff, his main hobbies include playing basketball and video games.

AJ's goals for the season are to, "improve as an overall player to make the team better,"

His future plans are to, "make it to college on an academic or athletic scholarship, and possibly play in the NBA."