BOYS BASKETBALL: Chester ends Rangers' streak in triple-OT

This one stings. The Chester Yellow Jackets put an end to Benton's nine-game winning streak to start the season on Monday afternoon, winning 56-54 in triple overtime at the Duster Thomas Hoops Classic in Pinckneyville - thanks to a three-pointer by Jake Schwartz ruled good at the buzzer.
Benton's Timothy Henson was at the free throw line for a one-and-one chance with 5.1 seconds to play in the third overtime, but missed the first shot. The other four Rangers were back near half-court to defend in case of a miss, allowing Chester to grab an easy rebound to set up Schwartz's answered prayer.
In reality the shot, however, did not beat the final horn. Upon further inspection, the clock had struck zero and the red lights around the backboards at both ends had come on before the ball left Schwartz's hand. Rangers head coach Ron Winemiller didn't want to use that as an excuse, though, rather he pointed to the missed opportunities his team had before Schwartz's shot went in.
"We didn’t make enough breaks, and I though Schwartz made all the breaks tonight," said Winemiller. "He probably deserved to get one there at the end. That’s the way the ball bounces.
"We’re up five in the first overtime, if we just rebound a missed shot and don’t let them out-scrap us for it, then what happens in the third overtime is a non-issue."
Benton was up 14-6 after a three-point play by Blane Pankey early in the second quarter, but got outscored 16-8 the rest of the half and the teams entered the break knotted at 22-22.
The game was tied again - for the tenth time - with 1:26 to play in the fourth quarter when Marc Torres scored for Benton, then the Jackets elected to run off the clock and hold for a final shot attempt, which was off the mark by Savion Smith.
Derek Oxford got the Rangers going in the first OT, making a three 15 seconds in. Free throws gave Benton a 48-43 lead, but Chester wouldn't go away.
Down three, the Jackets got a rebound and stick-back bucket by Schwartz, who was fouled on the play and made the free throw to tie the game up. Henson missed a three-pointer at the horn to send the game to it's second overtime.
The Jackets had a two-point lead with time winding down in OT2, but Oxford momentarily saved the day for the Rangers with a baseline shot to tie it with just a handful of seconds on the clock.
Chester held the Rangers to just a Kruz Hayes bucket in the paint in the final four minute period.
"I thought they did a good job of bringing the game to their pace," Winemiller said. "They were way more patient than I thought they would be. I thought Schwartz was the best player on the floor today. I thought he was kind of dominant at both ends. The rest of their guys just made enough plays to win it for them."
Oxford and Brendan Ritchason led Benton with 16 points apiece, but Winemiller thought his center could have had an even bigger night.
"Ritch is a good player, he ended up with 16 and probably should have had 26," said Winemiller. "He missed some easy stuff around the rim. He’s just got to be more consistent. If we’re going to throw him the ball, he’s got to reward us by scoring when we get it to him in the post."
Hayes finished with 7 points, Torres had 4, Henson, Pankey and Austin Willis each finished with 3, and Chase Owens had 2. Henson led the Rangers in rebounding with 6, Ritchason and Hayes each grabbed 5. Schwartz led all scorers with 22 points for Chester.

Benton 56, Olney 51:
Despite playing 44 minutes of basketball just three hours earlier, the Rangers had enough left in the tank to defeat Olney 56-51 on Monday night and advance into the Silver Pool bracket on Tuesday, where they will meet Unity High School out of Tolono at 10:30 a.m. The winner of that matchup will play for fifth place at 5:30 p.m., the loser falls into the seventh place game at 4:00 p.m.
Oxford led Benton with 21 points against the Tigers, Ritchason had 20, Willis 7, Hayes 6, and Henson 2. Oxford led rebounds with 5, Henson led assists with 6.