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Home > Blogs > Springfield, Ohio High School Sports > Archives > 2009 > March > 19
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Graham loses in overtime
Live updates from the Graham vs. Bishop Watterson Division II regional semifinal game at Xavier University’s Cintas Center. I’m sitting courtside.
The winner of this game plays in the regional final on Saturday right back here at Xavier at 3 p.m.
7:35 p.m.: Watterson’s Chris Grabosky hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to win the game, 45-44 Watterson.
7:33 p.m.: Josh Schuler just put the Falcons up 42-40 with seven seconds left. Watterson’s got one more chance to score with 3.4 seconds left. Watterson just called a timeout.
7:25 p.m.: 40-40 after regulation. Going to overtime. Watterson had two looks at the basket in the final five seconds but didn’t score.
That was after Ethan Ward was called for a player-control foul with 14.5 seconds left.
7:20 p.m.: It’s tied with 39.5 seconds left, 40-40.
7:17 p.m.: Graham’s up 40-36 with 1:40 left. Falcons are going into stall mode. Watterson’s starting to foul.
7:15 p.m.: Graham leads 38-36 after a bunny from Josh Schuler. 3:06 left in the game. Both teams are being patient on offense. Neither wants to make a mistake at this point.
7:10 p.m.: Casey Crable just hit a 3-pointer. Game’s tied 36-36.
7:05 p.m.: Ryan Zook just hit a jumper at the buzzer. The game’s tied 33-33 heading into the fourth quarter.
7:03 p.m.: Graham leads 31-28 thanks to a 3-pointer from Nick VanHoose. We’ve got about two minutes left. Austin Jones had tied it moments before with a layup.
7 p.m.: Graham’s down 28-26in the third quarter after Austin Jones just hit a huge 3-pointer. The crowd’s into it and the comeback is on.
6:45 p.m.: The Falcons have cut the score to 26-17 at halftime. Watterson was up 26-11 but the Falcons scored six points in a wild final minute.
The Falcons look a little lost on offense. The defense has been stout so far and they’ve forced seven turnovers.
The Falcons are shooting 5 of 21 from the field (23.8 percent), and 3 for 12 (25 percent) on 3-pointers.
Watterson, meanwhile, has made 10 of 14 (71.4 percent).
6:35 p.m.: Graham’s down 18-8 with four minutes left in the first half.
The Falcons are settling for 3-pointers instead of driving to the basket. The can’t seem to crack Watterson’s man-to-man defense.
6:25 p.m.: After one quarter Graham is down 14-6. The Falcons turned it over four times that quarter.
If the outcome was based on fan participation, the Falcons would win. Their side of the gym is twice as full as Watterson’s.
The Falcons are going to have to cut down on the turnovers.
6:20 p.m.: Graham’s down 14-6 with two minutes to go in the first quarter.
6:15 p.m.: Just about ready to start here.
Starters from Watterson: Andy Winters, Michael Tighe, Zack Riddle, Chris Grabosky, Matt Susi.
Starters from Graham: Ryan Zook, Austin Jones, Josh Schuler, Ben Rosenberger, Ethan Ward.
6:05 p.m.: We’re about five minutes away from the start of the Graham vs. Bishop Ready Division II regional semifinal boys basketball game.
I’m sitting courtside. I’ll be providing live updates throughout the game.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys Basketball, Graham High School, Regional tournament
On this date in area sports history …
Three years ago on this date, March 19, 2006, the Wittenberg men’s basketball team returned from Salem, Va., after losing in the NCAA championship game. Complete story on the jump.
Long bus ride puts Tigers’ season in perspective
National runners-up savor memorable year
By LUCAS SULLIVAN News-Sun Sports Writer
Wittenberg’s bus ride back from Salem was the same distance, but after Saturday’s heartbreaking loss to Virginia Wesleyan it probably felt a lot longer.
Players were in good spirits when the bus rolled toward Springfield at 9:35 a.m. and by the time it stopped for lunch just outside of Charleston, W.Va., players were laughing and talking with Tigers fans that had stopped at the same travel plaza.
Coach Bill Brown even treated the team to frozen yogurt.
But before the players left Salem, Va., Brown read from a hand-written note that contained his thoughts about the team’s 59-56 loss to the Marlins in the Division III NCAA championship game.
Brown said the game will “gnaw at me for the rest of my life” and told players that the devastating loss needed to be put into perspective, behind family and health. He also told them to lean on their faith.
The Tigers could also lean on some magical moments throughout a season that saw them finish 30-4. One would have to be Friday’s semifinals win over Amherst where senior Dan Russ scored 20 second-half points and rallied the Tigers to a 64-60 win.
Another would have to be the Tigers’ tournament run that never left Springfield until the Final Four.
And don’t forget their second straight North Coast Athletic Conference title at Wooster, where Wittenberg atoned for two regular-season losses to the Scots with a 71-69 finals win. Plus the Tigers were ranked No. 1 in the nation for a good part of the season.
Brown also tied Larry Hunter’s all-time wins record at 305 and the Tigers tied the 1994 Final Four team’s record for most wins in a season.
But probably the most memorable was watching seniors Kenny Brady, Phil Steffes, Dane Borchers and Russ play the best basketball Wittenberg has seen in quite a while. And Borchers has one more year of eligibility left and said he will be back next season.
As the bus drove onto Wittenberg’s campus at 4:30 p.m., Brown acknowledged his seniors.
“This is their last bus ride,” he said. “Thanks guys — for everything.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: College Basketball, College Men's Basketball, On this date, Wittenberg
