Janesville Parker’s late-season surge continued Friday night against Madison East.
J.J. Douglas scored 28 more points and pulled down more than 20 rebounds, and Jeff Rowin added 26 points as the Vikings (5-18 overall, 2-15 Big Eight) spoiled the Purgolders’ Senior Night with an 81-77 win after two overtimes.
The win was Parker’s third in as many games.
“We have figured some things out down the stretch of the season,” Parker coach Matt Bredesen said. “Thought it really started against Craig (on Feb. 8) where we played real well for most of the game.”
Parker led most of the way before East (10-9, 8-8) tied it up in the final minute. The Vikings ran a set for Douglas on the ensuing possession, but he couldn’t get a contested shot in the paint to fall. Parker then got a crucial stop to force overtime.
“We told these guys all week, if we don’t let Madison East win the rebounding battle, I like where we are at,” Bredesen said. “We held our own on the boards, and we liked the outcome.”
The Vikings fell behind in the extra frame and were down two with 8.6 seconds to go. They ran a sideline out-of-bounds play for Douglas, but his tip-in attempt missed the mark. Paul Kim cleaned up the rebound, however, and put it up and in to tie the game once again.
East’s heave attempt at the buzzer missed, and the teams went to another overtime.
Rowin scored all six of Parker’s points in the second overtime period, including a go-ahead layup with 45 seconds left and a pair of free throws with 11 ticks on the clock to seal the win.
“We are finally learning to win close games,” Bredesen said. This one was huge on the road as we had to get defensive stops to send it to overtime and double overtime. ... Jeff Rowin has really stepped up. He was tremendous in the second overtime.”
The Vikings wrap up their regular season at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday at home against Middleton. They will learn their place in their Division 1 sectional bracket Sunday morning.
JANESVILLE PARKER 81, MADISON EAST 77 (2 OT)
Parker 39 29 7 6 — 81
East 37 31 7 2 — 77
Janesville Parker (pts) — J.J. Douglas 28, Rowin 26, Jja. Douglas 11, Kim 10, Skrzypchak 4, Hill 2. Total 81.
Madison East (pts) — Jordan 30, Henderson 19, Smith 13, Emerson 5, Franklin 4, Presley 3, Tuinstra 2, Jarjue 1. Total 77.
3-point goals — JP 4 (Jja. Douglas 2, Rowin, J.J. Douglas), ME 8 (Jordan 5, Presley, Smith, Emerson). Free throws — JP 16-28, ME 14-19. Total fouls — JP 16, ME 20. Fouled out — Tuinstra (ME).
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