by Stephanie Croston

    Overtime is beginning to feel like familiar territory for the Seward boys' basketball team.
     The Jays visited there again Jan. 7 against Beatrice, the top-ranked team in Class B, and stayed for an extra four minutes before emerging with a 49-47 double overtime victory, thanks to a jump shot in the lane by Jordan Halvorsen.
     The win was Seward's third overtime victory but first this season in double overtime.
     SHS jumped out to a 12-5 lead after the first quarter and was up 19-13 at the half. All eight of Beatrice's second-quarter points came from the free throw line.
     The Orangemen made some adjustments during halftime and got into their rhythm on offense, outscoring Seward 27-21 in the second half.
     "To have an 11-point lead and lost it then fight back to overtime, that's huge credit to our basketball team," SHS Coach Jim Placke said.
     Placke said he never felt the Jays had the game wrapped up.
     "Even in the fourth quarter when we were up 11, I knew Beatrice would make a run. I'm not surprised they came back," he said.
     Beatrice was playing without 6-foot 5-inch senior forward Mike Higgins, who was out with a knee injury. But to counter, Seward's 6-6 center Jason Owens had been out sick all week, Placke said.
     The Orange took its first lead with 1:53 to play in the game on a layup by Brian Riekenberg, making the score 40-38. The teams were tied 40-40 at the end of regulation after Halvorsen hit a pair of free throws with 36.6 seconds to play.
     In the first overtime, Beatrice took a 42-40 lead, but Seward's Cade Luebbe hit a long two at the buzzer to force the second extra period.
     In the second overtime, Travis Clark scored on a layup for a 44-42 BHS lead early in the period. Tyler Weatherholt answered with a jumper in the lane, and then Luebbe hit a pair of free throws to put the Jays up 46-44 with 1:11 to play.
     Tyson Hegeholz, filling in for Owens, took a charge and connected on one of two free throws for a 47-44 lead, but Mike Fox completed a three-point play to tie the game again with 22.6 seconds left.
     That set up Halvorsen's only basket of the night. He drove the lane and took the shot with 1.8 seconds on the clock.
     Beatrice set up an inbounds play, throwing the ball 80 feet to Fox, whose shot fell short as the buzzer sounded.
     The SHS victory snapped a 31-game win streak by Beatrice, who is the defending Class B state champion.
     "When you have won three overtime games, that's special," Placke said. "It helps your confidence. You go into practice with enthusiasm, and it helps you keep going."
     Luebbe led the Jays with 20 points, while Hegeholz and Jordan Schaepe each pulled down seven rebounds. Halvorsen also dished out eight assists.
     Seward will travel to Schuyler Thursday, Jan. 12, to take on the 7-1 eight-ranked Warriors. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
     Saturday, Jan. 14, the Jays will host Omaha Skutt, which is 8-1 and ranked fifth. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.