KINGDOM CITY - The Van-Far Indians spoiled the North Callaway Thunderbirds' Eastern Missouri Conference opener by outscoring them 12-5 in the second overtime of Tuesday night's 81-74 loss.
North Callaway carried a 12-point edge into the fourth quarter, but Van-Far forced the first extra period by outscoring the Thunderbirds 19-7 over the last 8 minutes of regulation. The Indians' Jarrod Conner buried a jumper near the free-throw line with 1.4 seconds left to tie the game at 60-all.
The two teams then played to a 9-9 stalemate, sending the contest to the second overtime. Van-Far took control at that point to pick up its first win of the season.
Senior forward Michael Pezold logged a game-high 26 points to pace three players in double figures for North Callaway (0-5). Senior guard Brandon Hagedorn supplied 16 points and five assists, while senior forward Steven Coleman finished with 11 points. Pezold and Coleman shared team rebounding honors with nine apiece.
Nick Barnes countered with 23 points to spark the Indians (1-3, 1-1 EMO). Conner followed with 18 points and Josh Hodde had 13.
The Thunderbirds' junior varsity, meanwhile, earned its first victory with a 31-27 triumph. Freshman guard Sam Althiser scored a team-high 10 points for North Callaway (1-4), which hosts a girls-boys' JV doubleheader against Hallsville at 6 tonight.
North Callaway also remains at home for a girls-boys' varsity twinbill against EMO foe Community R-6 at 6 p.m. Friday.