After a basket from long range by Benton’s Isaac Billington made it a 13-point spread, Joey Niebrugge scored after grabbing an offensive rebound and added a pair of free throws after another Rangers turnover. Tyler Pruemer then made a strong drive to the basket for another score, getting the Shoes to within 30-23 at the 2:06 mark.

Benton stretched the lead back to 10, but another good drive by Zac Niebrugge made it an eight-point game, 33-25, heading into the final eight minutes.

And the Shoes weren’t done.

Garrett Gaddis hit a jumper, Austin Bloemer scored after grabbing a rebound and Joey Niebrugge scored from in close. With 5:34 to play, T-Town was within two points, 33-31.

“These kids had every opportunity to just hang it up,” said THS coach Chet Reeder. “But they cut it to two and had the ball. It just proves their toughness and grittiness.”

After making three of their first four shots in the fourth period, however, the Shoes went cold again. They made only one of their final seven shots from the floor.

Benton got its first points of the quarter on a bucket by Docker Tedeschi at the 2:59 mark. After T-Town failed to score on its next possession, Munoz drilled a three from the corner to make it 38-31 with 1:42 still remaining.

Twice, the Shoes got within four. Koester hit a three and Gaddis made a pair of free throws. That made it 40-36 with 54 seconds to go. But Luke Melvin made one free throw and Tedeschi added two more with only 19 seconds left to seal the victory and secure Benton’s first trip to the state tournament since 1992.

“We had an opportunity to tie or take the lead,” Reeder noted. “We just couldn’t make the plays at the end and Benton did. But I’m so proud of these kids. They fought like crazy to give themselves a chance.”

But that’s the position they found themselves in after a nightmare of a first half. The Shoes made only four shots and turned the ball over nine times in the first 16 minutes. And they failed to capitalize when Tedeschi, Benton’s 6’8” junior forward, was whistled for his third foul at the 2:46 mark of the first quarter.

After that foul – and a free throw by Gaddis – the game was tied at 5-5. It was 7-7 when Billington hit a mid-range jumper to put Benton on top and start the decisive portion of the contest.

Kyle Thomas opened the second quarter with a three for the Rangers, followed by a jumper from Pruemer. That made it 12-9 with 7:04 remaining in the opening half.

The following seven minutes provided the halftime cushion.

Billington, Grant Owens and Thomas scored to increase the margin to nine points. After single free throws by Koester and Joey Niebrugge, Owens connected from long range, as did Munoz. Gaddis made a free throw for the Shoes, but Billington capped the quarter with a long three from the top of the key just ahead of the buzzer to send the Rangers to the locker room with a 27-12 advantage.

After Pruemer’s basket early in the period, the Shoes missed their final four attempts from the field, went 3-for-6 from the foul line and turned the ball over four times.

“We got in a hurry and lost our composure,” Reeder explained. “We didn’t execute, we didn’t make shots and we turned the ball over.”

And with Benton’s best player and leading scorer on the bench in foul trouble, the Shoes were outscored 22-7.

“He’s 6’8” and long,” Reeder said. “He not only blocks shots, he also alters shots and affects some shots you miss because you think he’s coming. We really didn’t take advantage of a huge piece being off the floor.”

Billington led all scorers with 13 points. The Rangers shot 46 percent overall, connecting on 16-of-35 attempts. They were 6-for-19 from behind the arc and 5-for-8 at the foul line. They finished with eight turnovers.

The Shoes got nine points from both Joey Niebrugge and Koester. They were 13-for-34 overall, a 38 percent clip. They were 2-for-8 from long range and just 8-for-16 at the line. T-Town had 13 turnovers.

But the loss doesn’t take away from the strong season by the Shoes that included a regional and sectional title and a final 24-11 record.

“They should leave this place with no regrets,” Reeder said. “They made it to the Elite Eight three straight years. They have left their footprint on this program. They are a good basketball team. Their toughness is what has gotten them over the top and it’s what makes them special.

“They are great basketball players, but even better people,” the THS coach added. “I’m even more proud of that.”

Reeder will say goodbye to 10 seniors – Garrett Gaddis, Zac Niebrugge, Ethan Thoele, Joey Niebrugge, Mitch Koester, Tyler Pruemer, Austin Bloemer and Logan Lawson; plus managers Jackson Kinkelaar and Logan Mette.

“These seniors are outstanding young men,” Reeder said. “My 7- and 4-year-old daughters admire them. That tells you what kind of people they are. They will always be part of this family.”