The fans inside "The Woodshed" were treated to an instant classic Friday night as the Lumberjacks defeated the Thunderbirds of United Tribes 107-106.

The game started out very back and forth. It was evident that the Jacks wanted to do what ever the could to slow down the T-birds fast paced offense. At the first media timeout UTCC held a 17-14 lead as both teams continued to feel each other out. A three pointer by Max Groom would give the Jacks the lead for the first time in the contest a lead they would not relinquish. For long time. Led by 17 points from Jacob Smith including a thunderous dunk and 13 from Groom the Jacks were able to build a 17-point halftime lead at 53-36.

As the second half began the T-birds would slowly begin to chip away at the DCB lead. Famous Lefthand would hit a jumper part of his team high 31 points to cut the lead to nine points at 55-46 with 16:23 to play. The Jacks locked in on defense and ran good offense and were able to get the lead back to 16 points just three minutes later. Turnovers began to become a problem for the Jacks as they turned it over 27 times in the second half. A couple of quick steals by Sylvester Union would lead to quick buckets and the lead was cut to single digits. Groom hit another three for the Jacks to put them back up sixteen with 7:30 to play. Mikah Nelson had a highlight reel play for the Jacks stealing an inbounds play and slamming home a dunk while drawing a foul that had the crowd and the DCB bench on their feet. DK Middleton really started to heat up for UTCC with five minutes to play he got a runner to go on his way to 29 points. A Jesse White three pointer with four minutes to go would bring the Thunderbirds within 10 again, White finished with 15 points including five 3-pointers. Turnovers in the final two minutes would come back to bite the Jacks as UTCC found be able to cut the Jacks lead to just two points with 8.6 seconds remaining. The Jacks would have the ball and Smith went to the line for two shots. Smith would go 1-2 at the line to give DCB a 97-94 lead. On the ensuing UTCC possession Lefthand would be fouled on a 3-point shot with .3 seconds remaining. Lefthand nailed all three free throws to force OT.

The extra period started with an alley-oop dunk for the Thunderbirds from Union to Middleton to give the Thunderbirds their first lead since early in the first half.  Connor Trahan would hit a 3 to put the Jacks up one with 3:40 to play. Middleton responded with a floater in the lane to give UTCC the lead back. Groom got a fast break lay up to go off an assist from Jon Rey Taylor to give the Jacks back the lead. Lefthand had the answer for the T-birds with a baseline jumper to give UTCC a 103-102 lead. Loukas Triantis would give the Jacks the lead back after knocking down a deep three as the shot clock expired. The Jacks would get a stop but turn it over on the following possession allowing Middleton to find Lefthand for the go ahead lay up with 13.3 seconds remaining. On the next Jacks possession Jacob Smith would get the ball in the post and miss two opportunities to give the Jacks the lead but would miss both. Max Groom was able to tip the ball in just as the horn sounded to give the Jacks the win 107-106.

Here is what Coach Sorby had to say after the game, "huge win and huge week for our program. We played very well tonight for nearly 35 minutes, then UTTC really stepped up the intensity on the defensive end that really gave us fits, and they hit big shot after big shot. We made a cardinal sin fouling a jump shooter there at the end of regulation, had we not done that, I think we would have won in regulation. But credit to our guys, they came out in overtime and made the big shots necessary for us to come out on top. To get a win over a program that is going to be at the top end of the Mon-Dak is big for our program. It really caps off a busy week for us in the best way. To go 3-1 this week, with 2 of those wins being conference wins, we are thrilled. Now we have to turn our attention to a very good TMCC team."

Groom led all scorers with 33 points he added in 14 rebounds and went 11-12 from the free throw line. He was joined in double figures by four other Jacks, Jacob Smith had 24 points and 14 rebounds, Loukas Triantis added in 16, Brendan Redhead had 14, and Connor Trahan had 13.

With the win Jacks improve to 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the Mon-Dak. Through six games DCB sits 3rd in the Mon-Dak standings. The Jacks play a non-conference game Wednesday hosting TMCC and will try to avenge a loss earlier this season.