Ellsworth senior Curt Schilling (11) turned in a 23-point, five-rebound performance during Thursday’s Section 3A Boys’ Basketball Tournament championship game against Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Southwest State University in Marshall Thursday. By John RittenhouseHoops lore states that it’s tough to beat a good team three times in the same season. Unfortunately for the Ellsworth Panthers, that proved to be true in the championship tilt of the Section 3A Boys’ Basketball Tournament Thursday at Southwest State University in Marshall.A young and talented Russell-Tyler-Ruthton team avoided the prospect of losing its third game of the season to Ellsworth by pulling out a 56-53 win over the defending section champions.The win gives the Knights their fourth berth in the state tournament in the history of their school, and first since 1990. R-T-R will open the Class A event with a 3 p.m. game today at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.The loss snapped what was a 12-game winning streak for the Panthers, who end the season with a 23-7 record."It hurts a little bit right now, and it probably will be just as tough as the week goes on," said a disappointed Panther coach Ken Kvaale, moments after Thursday’s loss. "But when the dust settles, we’ll get over it and begin to realize that we had a good season."This was Ellsworth’s third straight good basketball season, and it nearly was extended with an exciting comeback against the Knights.R-T-R, which never trailed in the game, was on the verge of letting what was a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter slip away when EHS closed the difference to one point twice in the final three minutes of the game.The Knights, however, withstood the challenge without giving up their lead. R-T-R’s Brett Newton sank two clutch free throws in the final 30 seconds to give the Knights a three-point lead that would stand up after EHS missed two potential game-tying shots in the last 25 seconds of play.All things considered, it was R-T-R’s play in the first quarter that proved to be the difference in the game.The Knights scored eight unanswered points in the first 2:46 of the game and led by 12 (16-4) with 2:56 remaining in the first period.Ellsworth finally put things together at that point, closing the quarter with an 8-2 spurt capped by Tom Janssen’s put-back with 37 seconds remaining to make it an 18-12 difference.R-T-R scored the first point of the second quarter to lead 19-12 before Ellsworth countered with an 8-2 surge that ended with Todd Alberty converting a field goal at the 5:01 mark of the stanza to bring the Panthers within one point (21-20) of the Knights.R-T-R, however, put together a 13-3 run in the final five minutes of the half to open an 11-point (34-23) cushion at the intermission."Nerves might have had something to do with it, but I think it was our defensive lapses in the first half that did us in," Kvaale said. "It was very disappointing because we ran their offense in practice all week in preparation for this game. Give some credit to the kids from R-T-R because they did a great job."The Knights gained their biggest lead of the game (36-23) by scoring the first two points of the second half before the Panthers started to assert their will.Ellsworth put together an 8-1 run that ended with Adam Sieff draining a pair of free throws to make it a 37-31 game with 3:11 remaining in the third quarter, and the difference was seven (43-26) when Curt Schilling delivered a field goal with 18 seconds left. The Knights, however, scored the final two points in the third quarter and led 48-38 after making a three-point shot in the first minute of the fourth quarter.Ellsworth climbed back into the game over the next 4:30 and trailed 52-51 when Alberty converted a wrap-around layup with 2:34 left to play.EHS senior Lee Farrell drilled a pair of free throws with 1:07 remaining to bring the Panthers within one point (54-53) again, but those charity shots would be the last points Ellsworth would score in the game.R-T-R’s Newton, who was eight of eight at the free-throw line in the game, delivered a pair of tosses with 28.6 seconds left to give the Knights a 56-53 lead.Sieff put up an unsuccessful three-point attempt seconds later, and R-T-R collected the rebound. The Panthers sent R-T-R to the line with a chance to ice the game with 9.8 seconds remaining, but a missed one-and-one gave EHS the ball once more. Ellsworth advanced the ball into scoring position, but Cody Schilling’s desperation shot at the buzzer was off the mark."Our kids battled back," Kvaale offered. "I was hoping we could get this game because it was the fifth 12-game winning streak we’ve had in the last three years. It just wasn’t meant to be."Seniors Curt Schilling, Alberty, Sieff, Janssen and Farrell all made plays during the final game in EHS colors.Schilling, the school’s all-time leading scorer, netted a team-high 23 points and pulled down five rebounds.Alberty and Farrell shared the team lead with eight rebounds, and Alberty chipped in 12 points.Janssen and Sieff contributed four and three assists respectively to the cause.Box scoreCr. Schilling 9 0 5-8 23, Janssen 1 0 0-0 2, Co.Schilling 0 0 2-2 2, Sieff 2 0 4-4 8,Alberty 6 0 0-2 12, Herman 0 0 0-0 0, Klaassen 0 0 0-0 0, Farrell 2 0 2-2 6.Team statisticsEllsworth: 20 of 51 field goals (39 percent), 13 of 18 free throws (72 percent), 31 rebounds, four turnovers.R-T-R: 21 of 44 field goals (48 percent), 12 of 19 free throws (63 percent), 24 rebounds, 10 turnovers.
