The Atlantic Trojans basketball team had the fight of their season at home and hung on to win in overtime against the Lenox Tigers 67-65 on Friday night. Friday’s first quarter could be described as a seesaw with Atlantic starting the game on a 6-1 run. Lenox responded with an 8-0 run to take the lead at 9-8 and Atlantic capped off the first quarter scoring six straight unanswered points to make a 16-11 lead.

In the second quarter Atlantic continued to feed the ball to Colton Rasmussen all around the basket who seemed to be unstoppable with 17 first half points. Lenox looked to Gabe Funk 11 first half points to be their response in the second quarter. The Trojans fed off of Rasmussen’s perimeter shooting and Gavin McLaren’s 8 first half points to go up 33-25.  During the third quarter Lenox’s main focus was to score quickly and force Atlantic turnovers. Their strategy worked as the Tigers won the third quarter 22-9 and had the lead at 47-42.

As soon as the fourth quarter started Colton Rasmussen took the ball and singlehandedly gave his team the lead by scoring eight straight points. Lenox had no answer and both teams exchanged trips to free throw line to send the game into overtime at 61-61.

Atlantic looked poised at the beginning of the extra period, especially when Nolan Waters knocked down a left wing three to give his team the lead and the first points in overtime at 64-61. Midway through overtime Brock Henderson was fouled while driving to the basket and had two crucial free throws to put his team back up 66-64. The Tigers then got the ball back with under 10 seconds to play down 66-65. Gabe Funk took the inbound, but the aggressive defense by Rasmussen was too much for Funk as he was pressed back behind the half court line and called for a back court violation. Rasmussen was then fouled on the ensuing inbound and he went 1 for 2 and helped Atlantic go up 67-65. The half court heave at the buzzer for Lenox missed and Atlantic survived overtime.

Atlantic Head Coach Dalton Franken was proud of the way his team fought back throughout the second half of the game.

Colton Rasmussen led the Trojans in scoring with 33, Gavin McLaren had 20, and Brock Henderson chipped in 7. Up next for Atlantic, the Trojans will be facing a familiar Hawkeye 10 foe the Harlan Cyclones. Coach Franken noted that Atlantic needs to be patient, in order to be successful against a talented Harlan squad.

The Tigers were led in scoring by Gabe Funk with 27 and 19 points from Carter Reed.

KJAN will have coverage of the Harlan at Atlantic game beginning with the pregame show at 7:20 p.m.