#2 South Iron Takes Down #3 Bunker, 64-51, In Overtime

(Ellington) Two of the top teams in the state duked it out in the Class 1 District 3 boys championship, however, the South Iron Panthers were the last one standing. 2nd ranked South Iron defeated 3rd ranked Bunker 64-51 in overtime Friday night.

The Panthers jumped out to a 17-7 lead after the first quarter and grew their lead to start the second quarter…

South Iron extended its lead to 13 points, but they could not stop Bunker’s Cade Sutton…

The 6’5 senior scored all of Bunker’s points in the first half, though South Iron went into the break up 26-22. Despite going down by nine in the third quarter, Bunker managed to tie the game four different times, including a 39-39 stalemate at the end of the quarter. South Iron’s Martez Burse hit a three-pointer to open the fourth quarter. Bunker stayed around and were able to get their first lead of the game with 3:30 to go…

Both teams were in the double bonus. South Iron went 5-of-6 from the line in the fourth quarter and managed to take a five point lead off their one missed free throw…

Down by five, Sutton hit a three pointer and made two free throws to tie the game at 50. South Iron had the ball with 68 seconds remaining and bled the clock until a timeout was called with 9.9 seconds left, however, a travel was called with 4.8 seconds left. Cade Sutton took the ball the length of the floor but did not get a shot off in time.

South Iron outscored Bunker 14-1 in overtime. Gabe Ruble connected on his third three-pointer to put South Iron up 55-51…

Ruble finished with 15 points, while Martez Burse led the way with 21 points and making all six of his free throws in the fourth quarter and overtime. Coach Dusty Dinkins said it was a wild game…

South Iron wins their fifth straight district championship and improves their record to 24-4. The Panthers will face Chadwick in the Class 1 sectionals Monday night at Liberty Mountain View High School.

Cade Sutton, Bunker’s all-time leading scorer, put up 37 points in the loss. Bunker ends their season at 24-5.

Interview with Dusty Dinkins: