Joey Dwyer gave his dad a helping hand in the coaching department.
The senior guard hit a 12-foot pull-up jumper in the lane Saturday night with 11.9 seconds remaining for the go-ahead points as Shiloh Christian edged Berthold 52-50 in the third-place game of the North Dakota Class B boys high school basketball tournament.
It was Joey Dwyer who suggested the play to his father, Mike, during a timeout.
"Just a helpful suggestion," Joey Dwyer said, smiling. "It doesn't happen very often. But I was hitting my jump shot today. During the timeout, I asked my dad for an isolation play. He let me have it. It worked."
After a Berthold turnover, Shiloh Christian added a free throw for the final two-point margin and giving the senior a game-high 19 points.
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Mike Dwyer said it isn't unusual for player suggestions. "A lot of times in the huddle, I'll ask the kids what they want to run. They have input."
A big third quarter sparked the Skyhawks. Berthold led 23-16 at halftime, but Shiloh Christian closed the third on a 16-5 run to go up 34-30.
"I think both teams came out flat after disappointing losses (in Friday's semifinals)," Mike Dwyer said. "We talked at halftime about moving the ball, being more sharp. We came out in the third quarter with more energy. We just executed better."
Shiloh Christian increased its lead to 40-32 early in the fourth quarter before Berthold rallied behind Daniel Yale. The senior standout had the first eight points in an 11-2 run. The Bombers took a 50-49 lead with 31 seconds left when Mitchel White hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 31 seconds left.
"We were pretty flat for three-and-a-half quarters," Berthold coach Brock Teets said. "But it seemed like the kids really got after it then.
"Daniel's battling some injuries. He wasn't himself this weekend. He really gutted it out and made plays. And Mitchel really sparked us with his defense. But we put ourselves into too big of a hole."
Dwyer had 19 points and Donovan Lambert added 12 points for the Skyhawks. Alex Bloms had 18 points and Yale finished with a double double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
DeVillers reports on sports. Reach him at (701) 780-1128; (800) 477-6572, ext. 128; or send e-mail to gdevillers@gfherald.com .
