PLATTEVILLE - Platteville’s 35-32 victory over visiting River Valley Friday night was by no means artistic, but it certainly was clutch.
The Hillmen struggled to score throughout the Southwest Wisconsin Conference boys’ basketball game, but junior Nick Tashner buried a short jumper with 44 seconds left, and senior David Bast converted 3-of-4 free throws in the final 23 seconds to lift Platteville to a 35-32 victory.
Platteville shot just 19.6 percent (9-for-46) for the game, including 3-of-23 from behind the arc, but prevailed with a number of key plays down the stretch.
After River Valley senior Rob Gust tied the game at 30-30 with 1:36 left on a 3-pointer from the top of the key, Tashner gave the Hillmen the lead for good when he scored on a short putback jumper in the lane.
On the Blackhawks’ ensuing possession Platteville senior Logan Emendorfer stepped in front of a driving Gust to draw a charge that wiped out a would-be tying basket and sent the River Valley senior with his fifth foul.
Bast made a pair of free throws with 22.7 seconds left, then made 1-of-2 from the line after a pair of Carter Hoffman free throws. Bast actually made 7-of-8 from the line in the final period and finished with a game-high 13 points and 10 rebounds. Tashner finished with nine points and four rebounds.
Hoffman missed a potential game-tying three at the buzzer as Platteville escaped with the win.
“Different kids stepped up and made plays throughout the game, especially in the fourth quarter,” said Platteville head coach Mike Huser. “Our mental toughness was really good in the fourth quarter. We played good team defense and really persevered through a tough shooting night.
Platteville 35, River Valley 32
(from Friday, Dec. 16 @ Platteville)
River Valley 14 3 6 9 - 32
Platteville 5 11 7 12 - 35
River Valley (2-5, 1-1) - Noble 8, Brey 3, Hoffman 2, Caraway 4, Mueller 5, Gust 6, Thering 2. Totals - 12 5-7 32.
Platteville (3-4, 1-1) - Kevin Wruble 2, Logan Emendorfer 3, Dylan Tranel 8, David Bast 13, Nick Tashner 9. Totals - 9 14-20 35.
3 point goals - RV: 3 (Brey, Gust 2); P: 3 (Emendorfer, Tranel, Tashner). Team fouls - RV: 18, P: 12. Fouled out - none.
Bast's late FTs lift Platteville boys