Huskies pull out home win over Saints

By Kristi Nixon

NASHUA — Although the Saint boys’ basketball team had their share of chances, Nashua-Plainfield found a way to top St. Ansgar in this Monday, Dec. 12 Top of Iowa Conference East game.

St. Ansgar led by five at 53-48 and again at 57-52 as late as 2 minutes, 35 seconds to play, but a couple of Saint missed three-point attempts that turned into points on the other end of the court turned the deficit around for the Huskies in a 66-61 final.

Co-coach Jason Squier liked his team’s look from three, 7-of-22 from beyond the arc, throughout the game.

“We shot the ball much better tonight, which we were happy about,” Squier said. “It seemed like any time there was a little run, both teams did a good job of shooting the three. That is definitely something we’ve gotten better at as the season has went on. And, hopefully, that continues to get better as the season goes on.”

Following the missed threes by the Saints, N-P got three-pointers on the other end by Tucker Franzen and Devin Johnson to take a 62-57 advantage. Carsen Sparrow then knocked down a three-pointer of his own to cut the deficit to 62-60 with 23 seconds to play. However, with the Saints forced to foul and the Huskies in the double bonus, both Franzen and Bo Harrington, who posted a game-high 33 points, went 4-for-4 between them in the final seconds from the line.

With Hunter Hillman, Sparrow and Will Knowlton all scoring eight points at halftime, Hillman went on to lead the Saints with 18, followed by Sparrow with 17. Knowlton didn’t score again.

“We made a few little mistakes and they capitalized on those mistakes, unfortunately,” Squier said. “But, the boys battled hard, and in the end it sometimes just doesn’t go your way. We’re learning and learning how to win, have to learn from this.”