It took eight extra minutes to decide a thriller between the Clinton Prairie Gophers and Delphi Oracles on Friday’s Hoosierland TV Game of the Week.
A late slam by Delphi’s Caulden Pulver helped push the Oracles over the Gophers 71-65.
It was a primetime matchup in Delphi between two Hoosier Heartland Conference foes, both looking to avoid an 0-2 start in conference play.
The Oracles jumped out to an early lead thanks to two first-quarter threes by Kaydn McAtee. At the end of the first, Delphi held a 14-11 advantage.
In the second, Clinton Prairie responded, and freshman Jackson Miller gave them their first lead of the game at 23-20.
Delphi quickly retook the lead before the end of the first half and took a 24-23 lead into the break.
The third quarter went back and forth as both teams exchanged blows. Nick Curtin was huge in the second half for the Gophers, keeping them in the game in the third quarter.
Delphi was able to grow its advantage with some late buckets and held a 38-32 lead at the end of the third.
The Oracles pushed the difference to eight with 2 minutes left in the game at 52-44.
Curtin splashed home a three, and got an offensive rebound and putback on the next possession to make it 52-49.
After a Delphi turnover with less than 45 seconds left, Evan Smock connected on a huge three-pointer to tie the game at 52.
The Gophers stood tall defensively, and the game went to overtime.
In the first overtime period, Delphi jumped out to a lead thanks to a three from McAtee. The Gophers responded, and Curtin gave them a lead at 57-56.
McAtee would not go away and hit a floater to retake the lead 58-57.
After a Delphi foul, Nick Curtin went to the line with a chance to tie and take the lead. The Gophers struggled from the charity stripe all day, shooting less than 40% from the line.
Curtin knocked down one of two and sent the game to a second overtime.
In double OT, Caulden Pulver started with a long two, and McAtee added an and-one. The Gophers again had a response, and a Jaymon Crick layup made it 66-63 Delphi with under two minutes to play.
Pulver electrified the crowd on the next possession, slamming home a baseline drive and giving the Oracles the momentum they needed to close out the game. The play was named the Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union Play of the Game.
Pulver and McAtee combined for 39 points in the win, and Kaydn McAtee was named The Farmers Bank Player of the Game for his performance, finishing with a team-high 21 points.
The Gophers fell to 1-3 and 0-2 in conference play, while the Oracles have won three straight after falling to Rossville in the season opener.
If you missed the game, watch it in full at HoosierlandTV.com.
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