---

Eagle freshman Matthew Myers was undoubtedly disappointed by Barneveld's seemingly cold shooting and shots that stubbornly, would not drop at times Saturday afternoon - but it was Myers' four straight free throws at crunch time, all coming in the final 21 seconds, which helped guide coach Mike Whitish's Eagles to a 47-42 matinee win at Argyle.
The make-up game victory (following a snow-related postponement in late January) meant everything to the visiting Eagles - and with the victory, they clinched a share of the 2013-2014 Six Rivers Conference Eastern Division boys basketball championship. The Eagles and the Black Hawk Warriors will share the season crown, a title that appeared possibly headed into a three team split - at one point, last week. Ironically, the Albany Comets had held down first place, all alone, in the Eastern Division, heading into the final week of regular season action - but by losing to Black Hawk early in the week, followed by another loss Friday night against Pecatonica, the Comets were edged out of contention and dropped to a third place finish.
Both Black Hawk and Barneveld, finished with 9-3 division records; Albany was third at 8-4; Monticello and Pecatonica tied for fourth place with 7-5 records, Argyle was sixth at 2-10 and Juda finished last at 0-12.
Myers led the Eagles with 16 points Saturday and Brycen Sorensen added 14, including six in a third quarter spurt that put Barneveld into the lead.
Sophomore Riley Ostby had a team-best 11 for the O's, Alec Treuthardt added 10 and Christopher Severson added 8.
Tyler Hellenbrand added a free throw for the Eagles with three seconds remaining and the visitors recovered to earn a share of the crown after having trailed by three points at the 3:39 mark of the third quarter.
Myers' lay-up, Sorensen's rebound 'put-back' hoop, a Tanner Sullivan trey, a break away lay-up by Wes Williams (after an extraordinary pass and assist from teammate Hunter Whitish) and a offensive rebound hoop by Whitish allowed the Eagles to complete a key 11-0 run.
Barneveld played without the services of senior standout Jeremy Whitish again Saturday, a key contributor who remained sidelined with an ankle sprain suffered in mid-February.
"Brycen, Hunter, Matt - the whole team played well," said coach Mike Whitish, referring to the late third period stretch and continuing to the game's conclusion - and the securing of a conference championship.
"Before the game - I told the guys, you all understand your roles by now. Come in, perform your role and don't try to do anything more - and we'll be fine."
"Argyle played good defense today and we didn't shoot the ball well. Argyle's lost a lot of games - but are an improving team - and are a dangerous team," added Barneveld's mentor.
"We didn't fill some defensive gaps as well as we're capable of, early, and Ostby was effective for them (the Orioles) and he ate us up for awhile."
Whitish was pleased for the boys on his team - for the achievement of a goal (a conference crown) that every team sets - though few attain - when practices begin each November.
"I am very happy for the kids. We had two losses early in the season and I told the kids - we have the toughest part of our conference schedule ahead and we just have to keep digging - and our kids did so."
"We lost to Black Hawk by one point, lost to Albany by one and by two - and were fortunate to be able to get past Black Hawk the next time and to pick up additional late season wins. It's a very competitive conference."
SCORE BY QUARTERS
BARNEVELD 8 11 15 13
ARGYLE 10 8 10 14
BARNEVELD:(fg-ft-tp) Myers 4-6-16, Williams 1-2-4, Sorensen 6-2-14, Hodgson 1-0-2, Sullivan 2-0-6, Hellenbrand 0-3-3, H. Whitish 1-0-2. Totals: 11 (4) 13-22 47. Fouls -18. Three point goals: Myers 2, Sullivan 2.
ARGYLE: (fg-ft-tp) Argue 1-3-6, Ploessl 1-0-3, Dammen 0-2-2, Ostby 4-2-11, Olson 1-0-2, Treuthardt 4-1-10, Severson 3-0-8. Totals: 8 (6) 8-14 42. Fouls-20. Three-pointers: Severson 2, Argue, Ploessl, Ostby, Treuthardt.