Caton Rescues Mounties

BUZZER-BEATER LIFTS ROGERS HIGH PAST SUBIACO ACADEMY

By Paul Nielsen

Posted: November 24, 2009 at 4:12 a.m.

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ROGERS — Casey Caton was the only Rogers High player to hit a 3-pointer Monday night, and the Mounties got the ball in the senior’s hands at the right time.

Caton, a three-year starter for the Mounties, hit a 3-pointer from the corner as time expired as Rogers defeated Subiaco Academy 41-40 in overtime.

Trailing 40-38, Rogers put up a miss with four seconds left, but the Mounties retained possession when the ball went out of bounds. Rogers quickly got the ball to Caton, and his game-winner beat the buzzer for the victory.

“That was one of the hardest, most physical games we have played,” said sixth-year Mounties coach Marty Barnes. “That just goes in from a little bit of repetition and understanding what we have to do. That was a hard-fought game, the type of game you are going to see in conference.

“We grew up a lot tonight.”

Caton finished with a team-high 13 points, and he hit all three of his 3-point attempts. Caton also finished with a game-high 14 rebounds after playing all 36 minutes.

“(It’s Caton’s) third year to start, and that is what you need right there,” Barnes said.

Subiaco coach Tim Tencleve said the Mounties’ 39-30 rebounding edge was the difference in the game. Rogers had 18 offensive rebounds and finished with 12 second-chance points.

“It came down to they made the big play at the end,” Tencleve said. “Rogers is a big team and they are physical. We had a hard time keeping them off the offensive boards. We had a hard time blocking out.”

Graham Parker and sophomore Nathan Musso both finished with 10 points for the Mounties. Musso started in Saturday’s season opener but came off the bench Monday and hit 4-of-5 shots while grabbing six rebounds.

Rogers trailed 17-10 early in the third period, but Musso keyed an 11-0 run with six points that gave the Mounties a 21-17 lead with two minutes left in the third period.

“Great for a 10th-grader to play in a physical game like that,” Barnes said. “The first game we played, I thought he played tentative and tight. But this made up for that.”

Musso gave Rogers a 35-33 lead by making one of two free throws with 9.6 seconds left, but the Trojans’ Keon Walters hit a layup with two seconds left to force overtime. Rogers also had a turnover with 50 seconds left while leading 34-33.

“You have to know that when you are up, you have to protect the ball,” Barnes said.

Michael Osepa finished with 18 points for Subiaco.

Rogers returns to action Dec. 2 when the Mounties play Aurora, Mo., at the 45th annual Republic, Mo. Invitational Tournament. The Mounties don’t return home until Dec. 10 when they host the three-day Arvest Hoopfest Tournament.

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