Badgers Need OT to Move On

The Prescott Badgers beat the Flagstaff Eagles for the second time this season on the road with a 68-60 overtime win to move on into the Division 4A playoffs.

The sophomore trio of Jolley, Lozen, and Molnar combined for 41 points. Starters Drew Jolley had 16 points, and Cade Lozen with 11, but it was “third” sophomore Bobby Molnar who came off the bench to lead the Badgers in scoring with 17 points, that included a perfect six for six from the line.

Tyler Troxler led all scorers with 32 including a last second shot in regulation to send the game into overtime.

Jolley had eight first quarter points to keep the Badgers in the game early as Prescott trailed 19-14 after one quarter. Molnar scored his first bucket to tie the game at 19, but Flagstaff opened up a lead that they held onto for the remainder of the first half.

Trailing 31-27 to start the third quarter, the Badgers came out and doubled up the Eagles 18-9, and when Molnar hit a near half court shot at the buzzer, Prescott led 45-40.

The Badgers lead grew to 52-42 after a Caden Lozen slam dunk, but Flagstaff behind Troxler and three point baskets from Raphael Drumm and Joe Wright closed the deficit to just two with less than a minute to play.

After the sixth Badger turnover in the fourth quarter, Troxler hit a jump shot as the buzzer sounded to send the game into overtime. Prescott came out and took the lead for good on a bucket by Pedro Jimenez. From that point forward it was all free throws. The Eagles went stone cold from the field, and fouling the Badgers would slowly grow the lead. Prescott made seven of ten free throws, led by Molnar’s perfect four for four to out score Flagstaff 11-3 in the extra frame.

The win Badgers gives Prescott its first .500 record at (13-13) this season. Flagstaff ends their year at (17-12). Prescott will travel to play Arcadia who beat the Badgers 73-43 December 8 in Prescott. That seems like ancient history at the moment and the Badgers have grown a lot since that first meeting. Tip-off is Wednesday at 7pm.

The AIA found themselves in a bit of an issue as they had 26 teams instead of 24 starting Division 4A playoff action. They were counting on two 4A teams to remain into the Open Division playoffs, but Deer Valley was upset, moving them back down into the 4A playoffs. The result is an  added playoff game to be held tonight between Cactus and Eastmark. That winner will face Deer Valley. St. Mary’s, who originally held the top spot in 4A is the only 4A team that is still playing in the Open Division.

PRESCOTT (68)-Stedman 2 4-6 9, Lozen 5 1-2 11, Diener 0 0-0 0, Golleher 1 4-6 6, Jolley 8 0-1 16, Jimenez 3 3-4 9, Tenney 0 0-0 0, Kleinman 0 0-0 0, Molnar 4 6-6 17, Patterson 0 0-0 0. 23 18-25 68.

FLAGSTAFF (60)-Troxler 13 6-10 32, Anderson 2 0-0 4, Drumm 2 2-2 8, Padilla 1 0-0 3, Williams 0 0-0 0, Wright 3 3-6 11, Lee 1 0-0 2. 22 11-18 60.

Score by Quarters- 1     2     3     4    OT     –     T

Prescott                 14   13   18   12    11     –    68

Flagstaff                19   12     9   15      3     –    60

Fouled Out- Padilla

Technical Foul- Padilla, Lozen

Total Fouls-P 19, F 19

Three Pointers-P (4)-Molnar 3, Stedman 1, F (5)-Drumm 2, Wright 2, Padilla 1.

DIVISION 4A PLAYOFFS

First Round- Monday

#17 Cactus (12-12) at #16 Eastmark (14-11)

Second Round-Wednesday

Winner of Cactus/Eastmark at #1 Deer Valley (23-4)

#15 Prescott (13-13) at #2 Arcadia (20-6)

#9 Dysart (19-7) at #8 Coconino (20-5)

#12 Ironwood Ridge (14-11) at #5 Westview (18-8)

#13 Salpointe Catholic (11-12) at #4 Cactus Shadows (19-6)

#14 Mesquite (10-16) at #3 Sahuaro (22-3)

#11 Cholla (17-7) at #6 Saguaro (16-10)

#10 Paradise Honors (16-5) at #7 ALA-Queen Creek (27-2)