The RL varsity Cougars lost a nailbiter in overtime to the Valley Mills Eagles, 55-53 this past Saturday in Travis.

Valley Mills came out running, scoring first and taking control of the game. The Cougars, troubled by turnovers in the first half, kept just behind the Eagles on the scoreboard throughout the first quarter. Senior Brady Hering led the team in offensive rebounds, always being the right place at the right time. RL took control in the 2nd quarter with a basket from Hering and drawing the foul. The Cougars began to outscore the Eagles in the 2nd quarter. The Cougars headed to the locker room at halftime, leading the game 30-23.

Second half of the game, the Cougars striked first on the score board. Valley Mills then replied with a scoring run of 10 points in the 3rd quarter unanswered by the Cougars. RL came alive in the 4th quarter of the game, leading by 10 points with five minutes left. Valley Mills then came back with consecutive baskets to narrow the Cougar’s lead to three with only two minutes left. The Cougars answered back with a basket to extend their lead until the Eagles cut it down to two. The Cougars led by three points with only seconds remaining until Valley Mills tied the game with a hail mary three point shot, extending the game into overtime.

Valley Mills and RL traded baskets back and forth in the overtime period. The Eagles led by two points with less than one minute left on the clock. After several shots by both teams, senior Haven Mortimer hit a pivotal three point shot with seven seconds left to take the lead by one. Valley Mills then answered with a three point shot at the buzzer to take the win 55-53.

Big scorers for the Cougars were Hering with 24 points and freshman John Paul Reyna with 10. Leading rebounders were Hering and Reyna respectively.

The Cougars fell to 1-2 in district play and will travel to Bruceville-Eddy this Tuesday.