The game had to feel like dejvu for Doug Bennett.

But Saturday’s memory probably was one the Veritas Christian boys basketball coach rather would forget.

On Jan. 27, Bennett’s Eagles beat St. Mary’s Academy, 73-72, on a three-pointer at the buzzer in overtime.

Saturday, the score was flip-flopped. Veritas lost, 73-72, thanks to a late St. Mary’s three-pointer in overtime in Haskell Indian Nations University’s Tecumseh Gym.

“There was a number of times throughout the game that one basket would have made a difference, and that last shot definitely did,” said Bennett, whose squad dropped to 10-6 after Daniel Moats’ three with a minute to go in the extra period.

After Moats’ bucket, Veritas had a chance to regain the lead it had controlled most of the afternoon. Paul Kempf, who scored 14 points, drove to the basket for a layup and was fouled. But after Kempf’s free throw rimmed out, Mark Randtke couldn’t connect on a putback.

Randtke, though, had another memorable game. In the teams’ first meeting, the 6-foot-5 junior exploded for 41 points. Saturday he had 31.

But he said his shining performance offered little solace.

“We’ve got a pretty good rivalry going with these guys, so it’s definitely a tough one to drop,” Randtke said. “But hopefully we’ll get one more shot at them in the postseason.”

The only three the Eagles hit all game lifted Veritas’ spirits at the end of regulation. Senior Noah Barclay closed Veritas’ deficit to 61-60 with 20 seconds to go when he nailed a bomb from the top of the circle.

“After I hit that, I knew we were right back in it, and it would only be our game to lose,” said Barclay, who added 14 points.

After one free throw by St. Mary’s, Kempf tied the game on a drive with less than 10 seconds remaining, then Moats barely missed a mid-range jumper at the end of regulation.

Randtke scored two quick buckets in overtime, but St. Mary’s William Palmer — who scored 25 points, including six threes — tied the game on back-to-back drives before Moats’ trey.

Bennett, who said he enjoyed the rivalry that was developing between the schools, put the loss into perspective.

“It’s pretty much the same game that we had down there, except this time they got the one break,” he said. “The kids battled hard and gave everything they had. It just didn’t go our way.”