Nixyaawii boys take fourth

With the score tied at 74, Bonifer was fouled by Powder’s Trenton Dixon and hit both free throws.

Powder Valley led 71-68 with 2:13 left on a basket by Noe Benites.

Ashton Picard pulled Nixyaawii within one, 71-70, with a basket with 1:48 left.

Benites then gave Powder a 72-68 edge when he hit one of two  free throws with 1:25 remaining.

Picard answered with 1:06 left when he hit a pair of free throws to knot the game at 72-72, the eighth tie of the game.

Peter Colton hit 1-of-2 free throws to give Powder a 73-72 lead with 42 seconds left. Bonifer then gave Nixyaawii a 74-73 lead with a basket with 26 seconds remaining.

Dixon forced the ninth tie at 74-74 with 10 seconds left when he connected on 1-of-2 free throws.

Dixon scored 12 points, and Colton six as the Badgers forged a 23-20 lead after one quarter. Isaiah Case scored nine first-quarter points for Nixyaawii.

The teams tied five times in the second period before Nixyaawii took a 44-39 halftime lead.

Nixyaawii maintained its lead most of the third period. Powder managed to tie the game at 50-50, but Nixyaawii regained a 60-54 edge at the break.

Dixon led Powder Valley with 35 points and 20 rebounds. Colton added 27 points and 10 boards.

Shawn Simpson led Nixyaawii with 23 points. Case added 16, Joe Crawford 14, Bonifer 13 and Picard 10.

Nixyaawii    20    24    16    16    — 76

Powder Valley    23    16    15    20    — 74

Nixyaawii (76) — Bonifer 4 4-4 13, Simpson 11 0-0 23, Crawford 5 3-4 14, Case 6 3-4 16, Picard 4 2-2 10, McKay, Sampson. Totals 30 12-14 76.

Powder Valley (74) — Dixon 16 2-5 35, Allen 3 0-0 7, Kandle, Benites 1 3-4 5, Colton 12 1-2 27, Reed, Akers. Totals 32 6-11 74.

Three-point goals — Bonifer, Simpson, Crawford, Case, Dixon, Allen, Colton 2. Fouled out — Dixon. Total fouls — Nixyaawii 11, Powder Valley 14. Technicals — none.