Risco advances to championship game

Tigers will play for championship for first time since 1998 season

CLARKTON -- The No. 5 seed Risco Tigers (6-1) moved on to the championship game of the Clarkton Holiday Invitational Tournament on Thursday night by upsetting the No. 1 seed Gosnell Ark. Pirates 77-72.

"It was just a great game all the way threw," Risco head coach Brandon Blankenship said.

With around 20 seconds left in regulation and the Tigers clinging to a one-point lead, Ross Carter sank two free throws to put the Tigers up by three points that essentially iced the game for Risco.

"We didn't shoot free throws very well early," Blankenship said. "But we made a few when we needed to down the stretch."

Brandon Bennett stepped up big for the Tigers with 26 points while Zack Williams ended up with 17 points.

"This was just a huge win for our program," Blankenship said. "I think we're starting to get some respect."

This will be Risco's first trip to the championship finals of the tournament since 1998. The last time that the Tigers had won the title was in 1979.

The Tigers will try to improve on their six game winning streak when they play against Clarkton tonight at 8 p.m. for the tournament championship.

Gosnell will play the Richland Rebels for third place tonight at 6:30 p.m. after the Rebels fell to the Clarkton Reindeer 83-51 earlier on Thursday night.

The Gideon Bulldogs will play the Cooter Wildcats for the consolation championship after their victory over the Hayti junior varsity, 62-52, at 5 p.m. tonight as well.