Local Sports Journal
Chris Osantowski scored from close range with 3.4 seconds remaining on Friday night and lifted Tri-unity Christian to a 47-46 victory over the host Western Michigan Christian Warriors.
Not only did the outcome spoil the Warriors’ Homecoming festivities, but prevented WMC from clinching at least a share of the River Valley title. WMC (9-5, 5-1) has two games remaining in the league race and saw its league lead cut to one game.
Tri-unity raced out to a double-digit lead thanks some unforced turnovers on the part of the Warriors. The Defenders led 15-8 at the first stop, led 20-10 in the second quarter and took a 22-16 lead into the half.
The Warriors came alive in the third quarter and pulled to within 33-30, then surged into the lead in the fourth. Senior Bernard Smith, who finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds, scored eight points in a fourth quarter that saw WMC take a 43-36 lead.
However, Tri-unity fought back on a huge 3-pointer and 5-of-6 free-throw shooting by Nick Klaassen in the final stages of the game.
In the end, WMC took a one-point lead with 18 seconds left, but that set up the final heroics for the Defenders.
Jacob Ray finished with 14 points and five rebounds for WMC.
Javier Cuevas led Tri-unity with 11 points. Klaassen and Osantowski each scored nine.
Tri-unity Christian 47, Western Michigan Christian 46
TRI-UNITY CHRISTIAN
Aaron Christensen 1 1-1 3, David Possehl 3 0-1 7, Javier Cuevas 5 0-0 11, Nick Klaassen 1 6-8 9, Chris Osantowski 3 2-2 9, Nathan Schau 3 0-1 8. Totals 16 9-13 47.
WESTERN MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN
Alex Rop 0 0-0 0, Jacob Ray 6 1-2 14, Derrick Holt 1 0-0 2, James Godwin 2 1-2 5, Bernard Smith 8 6-8 22, Devin Eekhoff 1 0-0 2, Nate Dugener 0 1-3 1. Totals 18 9-15 46.
Tri-unity 15 – 7 – 11 – 14 — 47
WMC 8 – 8 – 14 – 16 – 46
3-pointers: Possehl, Cuevas, Schau, Klaassen, Ray. Fouled out: none. Technicals: none. JV: Tri-unity 61-47. A: 800.
