Overcoming adversity

LaCroix tops off tough day with game-winner

January 23, 2011 – By CHRIS AARHUS, Staff Writer caarhus@minotdailynews.com

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Prior to his game against No. 4-ranked Bishop Ryan on Saturday night, Mark LaCroix’s day was tough, to say the least.

The Bottineau High School junior already experienced a hard day before having to play No. 4-ranked Bishop Ryan in a boys basketball contest. He attended his grandmother’s funeral in the morning and came away from a car accident uninjured afterward.

On Saturday night, LaCroix was determined to make sure the day ended on a positive note.

With 2.8 seconds remaining, LaCroix took a perfect inbounds pass from Matt Bowers and layed it in to send the Braves to a thrilling 53-52 Class B basketball victory over the Lions at the Ryan gym.

“It was perfect the way coach drew it up,” said LaCroix, who finished with a game-high 25 points. “Without that perfect pass, the shot never goes up.”

LaCroix’s somewhat miserable day was forgotten, if only for a second, by a shot that improved the Braves’ record to 13-2 on the season. They’re receiving votes in the latest Class B poll.

“It’s a great accomplishment,” LaCroix said. “I don’t think we’ve beaten Ryan in (five) years – since the last time we went to state.”

Bottineau coach Nate Simpson said he figured Ryan would do everything it could to deny junior Justin McCloud the ball.

“We had Matt fake (the pass) to the corner and lob it into the middle to Mark,” Simpson said. “It was executed to perfection. That’s (Mark’s) spot – right around the basket.”

It was clearly a good call by Simpson, who knew exactly what Ryan coach Scott Medalen had in mind.

“We thought we should key on McCloud,” Medalen said. “He’s their catalyst. It was such a gamble. They ran a good play.”

Medalen said LaCroix’s presence in the game became increasingly frustrating.

“Their posts made plays,” Medalen said. “LaCroix scored at will. That’s your player of the game right there.”

Overshadowed by the game-winning shot was Bottineau’s defensive effort in the final quarter, holding the Lions to five points.

Ryan had a five-point lead with 2:15 to go, but LaCroix sank a short jumper and Bowers turned a stolen perimeter pass into an easy layup to draw the Braves within one at 52-51. Ryan’s Taylor Schwan missed a bonus free throw with 11.8 seconds remaining. and Bottineau (13-2) took it down to its own end where Ryan committed its sixth foul with 2.8 seconds remaining to set up LaCroix’s heroics.

Though Simpson said the win is a confidence-booster, he was quick to point a trap that many teams fall into.

“I hope this win doesn’t define our season,” Simpson said. “We’ve gained a lot of confidence, but it could be for nothing if we lose to Rugby on Tuesday.”

Ryan got out to a blazing start, leading 16-5 in the first quarter. However, Bottineau answered and even took a 27-23 lead in the second. However, Ryan took back the lead before halftime and led throughout the entire third quarter.

The Lions were led in scoring by Ben Magnuon’s 16 points. Taylor Schwan had 11 and Saari 10 for Ryan, which drops to 11-2 and hosts Surrey on Tuesday.