One day after losing a heartbreaker in the Class 3 state semifinals, Thayer came out on the right side of a late basket. Rowan Spencer knocked down a three-pointer with one second left to give Thayer a 67-64 win over Lafayette County in the Class 3 third place game.
Thayer was in control of the game early extending its lead to as many as eight points with 7:36 left in the second quarter. Lafayette County answered with a 12-0 run to take a 23-19 lead with 5:28 left in the first half. The two teams played evenly from there with Lafayette County taking a 33-30 lead into the break.
Out of the half, Thayer battled back to take the lead back at 40-39 with 5:22 left in the third quarter. The Bobcats did not trail again until Lafayette County took a 60-58 lead with 3:34 left in the game.
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Thayer led by three, 64-61, with 1:14 left in the game. Lafayette County’s Camryn McBride hit a three-pointer with 50 seconds left to tie the game at 64-64.
The Bobcats played for one final shot and Spencer knocked down the three on an assist from Aidan Burns.
Thayer finishes the year on a high note! The Bobcats win the third-place with a buzzer beater.
MO Sports Hall of Fame baseball coach Mark Stratton sent this my way — he had the *PERFECT* angle for the winning bucket. @THSBobcatSports @OzarksOzone pic.twitter.com/20avuCPFcT
— Mark Spillane (@MarkSpillane_) March 11, 2023
Spencer was on fire in the game going for 32 points on 10-for-17 shooting from the field and 6-for-8 shooting from three-point range. Burns was the only other Bobcat in double figures with 12 points. He handed out a game-high eight assists. Devin Harrington and Easton Pitts were both strong defensively with three steals each.
Thayer concludes its season with a 26-5 record. The Bobcats are slated to return their entire roster next season with no seniors on this year’s team.
