Richland (Essex) battles back for OT W at Bernie

BERNIE – Bernie High School basketball coach Jason Long isn’t into moral victories. However, he has been around long enough to know when a team is showing progress, regardless of losing a game.

Such was the case on Tuesday, as the Mules squandered a double-digit lead with some struggling play late, and ultimately fell to Richland (Essex) 63-57 in overtime at Bernie High School.

“This group is frustrated because they are tired of playing teams close,” Long said following the loss. “Richland is a good team and (our players) really wanted to win this game tonight.”

The Mules (10-12) had an abundance of opportunities to do so against the Rebels.

Bernie played teams with a winning record five times prior to a January 30 game against Twin Rivers, and in four of those contests, Long’s team lost by double figures. However, beginning with that game against the Royals, in the four games since against winning squads, Bernie’s average margin of defeat is a mere six points.

“It’s night and day,” Long said of his team’s progress. “It’s not even close.”

Bernie rolled over the Rebels in the opening eight minutes, as Long’s kids led 12-1 and eventually 15-6 early in the second period.

“We didn’t hit a shot,” Rebel coach Matt Cline said. “We settled for some shots and didn’t work to try and pound the ball inside (to Rebel forward Tucker Hughes). We gave up a couple of big offensive rebounds and a couple wide-open threes.”

Hughes, who has morphed into Richland’s top player this season, didn’t score a basket until 2:20 remained in the opening half, as the Bernie zone kept him from getting the ball and open opportunities.

“Bernie is coached very well,” Cline said, “and (Hughes not getting looks) had a lot to do with Jason.”

The Mules led 23-18 at the half, but only 37-34 early in the final period, as Hughes began to find the cracks in the Mule zone. He scored nine of his team-high 19 points in the third quarter.

“The zone really plays to our strength,” Long said. “It is really best suited for our personnel.

“It has kept us in a lot of close losses.”

With 5:07 remaining, Richland (Essex) (18-7) sophomore forward Gary Tilley hit a tough turnaround jumper to tie the game at 39. However, moments later Mule junior Taven Owens answered with a pair of his five 3-pointers on the night to keep his team ahead, as Bernie led 46-41 with 3:30 on the clock in regulation.

With 49 seconds remaining, Bernie junior Cade Arnold buried a couple of free throws (he hit 6 of his 8 attempts) to put the hosts up 48-43 and things looked good for the Mules.

Tilley wasn’t finished, however.

The lanky athlete sank a 3-pointer with 42 seconds left to pull his team to within 48-46, and Hughes answered with a basket with 26 seconds left to cut the Rebel deficit to 49-48.

Over the final 38 seconds of regulation, Bernie misfired on four free throws and ended the night missing eight of its 20 free throws.

“I didn’t talk to them a lot about that,” Long said of his postgame meeting with his kids. “They know. They are beating themselves up.”

Hughes tied the game at 50 with 17 seconds remaining, but he missed on a short jumper in the final seconds, which was rebounded right at the rim by Rebel junior forward Eric Williams, who also missed on the bunny.

It didn’t matter. The Rebels owned the overtime, as Tilley came away with the opening tip and laid the ball in just five seconds into the extra session, which interestingly enough, was the Rebels’ first lead of the game.

“We toughened up,” Cline said.

Richland (Essex), which had lost 3 of its four games leading into Tuesday, needed a direction change.

“I don’t feel like we have played a good, complete game, since the start of the season,” Cline said. “We had lost three of the last four, but don’t get me wrong, they were good teams (Risco, Puxico, and South Pemiscot).”

Hughes and Tilley each had 19 points to pace the Rebels while Williams finished with 11 points.

Owens led Bernie with 22 points while senior Jayden Robinette had 14 points and freshman Chase Guiling added 13 points.

Bernie will host Oran (10-14) today at 7:30 p.m.

Richland (Essex) will visit Bloomfield (11-12) today at 7:30 p.m.