Holton boys earn overtime win to get into victory column

 

CUSTER – Holton had three players score in double figures as the Red Devils pulled out a thrilling 59-54 overtime win over Mason County Eastern on Thursday night at Custer.

 

It was the Red Devils’ first win of the season.

 

The Cardinals suffered from a spell of cold shooting throughout the first half, and the Red Devils made them pay, outscoring them 13-10 in the first quarter and 12-8 in the second to build a 25-18 first-half lead.

 

Eastern managed to eat away at the Red Devils’ lead in the second half by outscoring them 19-13 to shave the margin down to just one, 38-37.

 

Rylee Pierce picked off an Eastern pass and converted it into a basket at the other end with 20.6 seconds left in regulation, and the Red Devils got another steal on the inbounds pass for another score that sent the game into OT.

 

The Red Devils outscored the Cardinals 11-8 in the extra session.

 

Holton burned the nets from 3-point range, knocking down 11 triples on the night. Peyton Russell buried five of them, while Keon McMillan drilled three and Gabriel Colon two.

 

McMillan scored a game-high 17 points for the Red Devils, followed by Russell with 15, Colon with 14 and Collin McAllister nine.

 

Eastern was led by Josh Rogers with 16 points, while Drake tossed in 13 and Shoup 12.

 

Holton improved to 1-3 overall and returns to action next Friday in the Second Annual Holton Holiday Tournament at 1:30 p.m.

 

The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for Eastern, which dropped to 2-4 on the season. MCE travels to Mesick Friday.