By Matt M. Stutz

The Pandora-Gilboa High School boys basketball team traveled to Arlington on January 20 in hopes of staying undefeated atop the Blanchard Valley Conference standings. But with Arlington’s game winning shot at the buzzer, P-G lost in heartbreaking fashion, 46-45.

With eleven seconds left in the game and the Rockets down one, P-G’s Aidan Harris was fouled putting him at the line for a one-and-one. Harris stepped to the line and calmly hit both free throws for a 45-44 lead.  Following a Red Devil timeout, with just 5.9 seconds left, Arlington had the ball at half court to set up the final play.  The Red Devil point guard got the ball, backed down the P-G defender who was flanked all over him, banked in the off-balanced, one-handed shot.

P-G took an early 18-13 advantage after the first quarter. Arlington didn’t flinch and took control in the second, outscoring P-G 17-5 to take a 30-23 halftime lead.  P-G would trim things a little closer as the Rockets were still down 38-32 heading into the fourth quarter.

Aidan Harris led the Rockets in scoring with a game high 20 points, knocking down two 3-pointers.  Colin Harris added 9 points as  Jake Maag chipped in with 6 points. Aidan Morris finished with 5 points, Nate Maag 3 points, and Derek Maag closed out the P-G scoring with one shot from the floor for his 2 points.

The Rockets (11-3, 5-1 BVC) will play a pair of home games next weekend, as Cory Rawson will come to town on Friday night January 27th for a BVC match-up.  Then Bluffton will make the short trip on Saturday evening in non-conference action.