Video: Wellington’s R.J. Clift with the block vs. Conway Springs in the final seconds… (Video courtesy of Mary Zeka) 

Sumner Newscow report — Neither the Wellington and Conway Springs boys played in the Chaparral Roadrunner Classic a couple of weeks ago, so they had a make-up game Monday night.

It turned out to be a very close ball game with Wellington eking out a 51-49 win. As the video shows above, Wellington staved off two closing-second shot attempts in the final sequence. The victory was preserved by a Clift block.

“RJ’s block at the end of the game was one of the more impressive plays I’ve seen in my 15 years of coaching,” said Joe Newman, Wellington head boys basketball coach. “He’s done that in practice many times, but to get one like that with the game on the line is big time.

Newman continues:

“The game wasn’t pretty, but it’s a win. Going into the game I knew it would be a dog fight. Conway is known to be a big, physical team. Their 1-3-1 gave us some problems throughout the game. With Tanner (Meyer) out we needed guys to step up and fill the void.”

Banks continues to be on a tear hitting six 3-pointers as an encore performance from his eight 3-point performance 0n Friday.

“Berk (Wright) also had his best game of the season by stepping up big in the second half,” Newman said.

Banks led Wellington with 23 points while Wright had 16.

Zach Osner was the leading scorer for Conway Springs with 20 points. Iziz Billups had 13. Other scorers were Nash Johnsen 5, Cole Schulte 5, Heath Hilger 4, and Riley Fisher 2. Conway Springs had six 3-pointers in the game – three from Billups.

Some interesting stats: Wellington led Conway Springs in rebounding 42 to 28. Crusaders are still having a hard time taking care of the ball, committing 20 turnovers.

Wellington, now 6-6, hosts El Dorado on Friday. Conway Springs is 2-8 and hosts Wichita Independent tonight.

Individual stats for Wellington: 

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