The first-ever boys basketball meeting between Blair High School and Elkhorn North came down to the final seconds Tuesday night.
After Jack Lusk's straightaway 3-pointer with 3.2 seconds left put the first-year Wolves ahead, Sawyer Lawton's deep equalizer just missed at the buzzer. North won 47-44 at home, improving to 7-10 this season, while coach Chris Whitwer's Bears fell to the same record. BHS has lost its last five games dating back to Jan. 15.
Tuesday's game was tight from the first period on. Luke Ladwig's first 3-pointer gave Blair a 7-2 advantage, but the tally after 8 minutes was 14-14.
The Wolves then led 28-25 at halftime before Morgan Rump's late third-quarter bucket gave the Bears a 40-39 advantage going into the fourth. Nolan Ulrich's hoop to start the final period pushed BHS' lead to three and held until Nathan Cunningham hit a Elkhorn North 3 with 1:03 remaining.
Twenty-four seconds later, Ladwig evened the score at 44 on an assist by Cade Ulven. Lusk responded with his go-ahead shot from long range and the Bears were unable to tie the score again before the final buzzer sounded.
Ladwig led Whitwer's team in defeat with 11 points, while both Kip Tupa and Lawton notched eight. Cade Ulven added seven points, too.
Lusk, meanwhile, led all scorers with 18 as Elkhorn North moved to 1-0 all-time against Blair. The Bears face Bennington 6:30 p.m. tonight on their home floor.
