By Landon Duester
Coming off three straight losses, the Mustangs viewed Pleasanton as a winnable—but challenging—matchup. Knowing Pleasanton is always a tough opponent, the Mustangs emphasized the importance of starting fast and putting their recent losses behind them. They did just that, coming out strong and playing together to take an 18-12 lead after a fast-paced first quarter. The Mustangs continued to push the tempo and play unselfishly in the second quarter, carrying a 33–28 lead into halftime. Pleasanton, however, refused to back down and kept the game close and competitive throughout the entire second half. The Bulldogs outscored the Mustangs 19-9 in the fourth quarter to erase a double-digit deficit and force overtime, tied at 54.
Despite the momentum shift, the Mustangs kept their composure in overtime and jumped out to a four-point lead by capitalizing on their first two possessions. Pleasanton continued to fight and reclaimed the lead, 59-58, with five seconds remaining. Head coach Shaun Fisher drew up a final play, and senior Landon Duester delivered, scoring a game-winning layup as time expired. The basket sealed a thrilling 60-59 victory, snapping the Mustangs’ losing streak and putting them back in the win column. When asked how much the win meant after three consecutive losses, Coach Fisher said, “Having those three losses in a row can really weigh on a team. It was great to see them battle the entire game and gain their confidence back. Beating a team like Pleasanton will hopefully give our guys the belief that ‘we can do this.’”
Leading scorers for the Mustangs were seniors Jack Reents and Duester with 16 points each. Fellow seniors Hayden Karr and Beau Bonifas followed closely behind with 10 and 9 points, respectively. Bonifas, Reents, and Duester also held down the boards with 11, 10, and 9, respectively.
Coach Fisher was also asked what he wants to continue seeing from his team. “I need them to see that they can compete with anyone on our schedule,” he said. “They played without fear and looked like they were having fun again. I will continue challenging each of them individually so they keep pushing themselves every time they step on the court.” With the momentum from this big win, the Mustangs will face Blue Hill and Grand Island Lutheran on back-to-back nights.