ROGERS -- Rogers Heritage had an answer for a Rogers High challenge Tuesday night in King Arena.
The War Eagles hit big shot after big shot but still had to hold on for a tough 46-44 win over the crosstown rival Mounties in 7A-West C0nference boys basketball.
Heritage (13-2, 2-0 7A-West) picked up its 12th straight win, but it was far from easy as the War Eagles made just 3 of 7 free throws in the fourth quarter.
Seth Stanley scored a game-high 18 points, including 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter to put Heritage up 42-35. Rogers (7-8, 0-2) didn't fold though as Elliot Paschal got a steal and Drew Miller drained a 3-pointer to get the Mounties within 45-42 with 56.1 seconds left.
Heritage made just 1 of 3 free throws in the final 20 seconds, but played strong defense late to finish off the win.
War Eagles coach Tom Olsen said his team didn't execute great late in the game, but credited Rogers' defense, too.
"We gotta make a couple free throws and then we made some poor decisions with the ball," Olsen said. "But I've got to give them some credit. They're putting some pretty good pressure on us on the road on the opposite end of the floor in front of their student section and that ain't easy. But if we're going to achieve and try and be a champion we've got to handle the last part of the deal."
Stanley made 7 of 14 shots from the floor, including four 3-pointers. He also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Ty Olsen was also in double figures for Heritage with 10, including three 3-pointers. Miller, a sophomore, led Rogers with 17. Garrett Dake added 10, all in the second half.
Rogers High's Jaden Uecker hit two free throws to give the Mounties a 31-30 lead with less than two minutes left in the third quarter, but Stanley scored less than 30 seconds late to give Heritage the lead for good.
Olsen said the Mounties made it tough on Stanley, who came in averaging 21 points per game. But the 6-5 senior was efficient.
"He stepped up and made them," said Olsen, whose team led by four at halftime and entering the fourth quarter. "That was a pretty big deal. We got him some shots and he got himself some shots, but he made them. He's a good player, but they made it tough on him. They're long. They're physical. Miller's a good player. The next team that plays them better be ready.'
Rogers coach Lamont Frazier said his team is making progress.
"We always seemed to have a letdown at those critical times," Frazier said. "They've been used to winning and of course, we're gonna turn the corner. Every game we've gotten a little bit better and I thought tonight was just another testament to our guys and what they've done so far."
Rogers Heritage 46, Rogers High 44
Heritage 11 10 14 11 46
Rogers 7 10 14 13 44
Heritage (13-2, 2-0): Stanley 18, Olsen 10, Peek 7, Breedlove 4, Clines 4, Fincher 2, Kimball 1.
Rogers (7-8, 0-2): Miller 17, Dake 10, Lacewell 6, Uecker 5, Paschal 4, Jones 2.
Girls
Rogers High 36, Rogers Heritage 32
Madison Loyd made 3 of 4 free throws in the final 29.8 seconds to help the Lady Mounties hold off the Lady War Eagles.
Heritage (5-9, 0-2) stayed close the whole way, but led only briefly in the first quarter. Pam Seiler got a steal and layup to pull the Lady War Eagles within 33-32 with 44.3 seconds left. But Loyd, who led all scorers with 12 points helped Rogers seal the deal.
Rogers led by five at halftime, but by only two heading into the fourth quarter. Loyd's rebound basket with under three minutes left gave the Lady Mounties a 33-28 advantage.
Rogers coach Preston Early was pleased with how his team found a way to win, despite not playing as well as he would have like. The Lady Mountie made just one of their first 19 shots and committed 24 turnovers in the game.
"The thing I was proud of was we didn't give in, just overcoming adversity," Early said. "When we needed to make some plays, it happened for us. I've seen so much mental toughness grow in a girl like London Hatch. I thought she had two big steals. Ally (Figenskau) was tremendous at protecting the rim.
Brooke Menke was Heritage's only player in double figures with 10.
Rogers High 36, Rogers Heritage 32
Heritage 3 11 11 7 -- 32
Rogers 3 16 8 9 -- 36
Heritage (5-9, 0-2): Menke 10, Kinnamon 6, Seiler 5, Rohrbough 3, Richardson 3, Dickerson 3, Beutler 2.
Rogers (9-6, 2-0): Loyd 12, Figenskau 8, Storey 5, Covington 5, Carr 2, Hatch 2, McConnell 2.
Preps Basketball on 01/10/2018