The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

East falls flat at local showcase

Coach disappointed after 63-43 loss to Vandalia Butler.

Lakota East's Rob Harpring (4) dribbles the ball down-court through the defense of Vandalia Butler's
Alex Joiner (23) and Dylan Cloud (12) during the Flyin' to the Hoop Invitational at Kettering Fairmont's Trent Arena on Monday. Staff photo by Nick Daggy

Nick Daggy Lakota East's Rob Harpring (4) dribbles the ball down-court through the defense of Vandalia Butler's Alex Joiner (23) and Dylan Cloud (12) during the Flyin' to the Hoop Invitational at Kettering Fairmont's Trent Arena on Monday. Staff photo by Nick Daggy

ENLARGE PHOTO

Mesoraco's slam sends Reds over Braves
7:38 a.m.
Lost chances cost Cougars
5/25/12
Badin advances to regional final
5/25/12
West hopes to keep winning
5/25/12
Is third time the charm for senior?
5/25/12
> More sports headlines

By Rick Cassano, Staff Writer 12:54 AM Tuesday, January 17, 2012

KETTERING — Wally Vickers considered it an opportunity lost.

His Lakota East High School boys basketball team made a tepid showing Monday afternoon as a last-minute addition to the Flyin’ to the Hoop showcase, leaving its coach perplexed about why.

“I’ve been very proud of my team in defeat many times. Today I was not,” Vickers said after Vandalia Butler leveled the Thunderhawks 63-43 at Fairmont’s Trent Arena.

“We went backwards, and that’s disappointing,” he continued. “You only get 20 games, and we put a lot of time and effort into those 20 games. Today was not symbolic of our preparation.”

Butler (5-7) ran off 13 straight points to erase an early 6-4 deficit, and East (5-7) was never really in the game after that.

Junior guard Rob Harpring paced the Thunderhawks with 13 points. He was the only East player with more than six.

“We were ready. We just didn’t come out and actually show it,” Harpring said. “We’ll get back at it and should end up a lot better than we are now. We’ve just got to be determined to do it.”

The Thunderhawks did shoot 48.6 percent from the floor, yet committed 17 turnovers and made 4-of-9 free throws. Butler’s field-goal percentage was 59.0 and very consistent — 59.1 in the first half and 58.8 in the last two quarters.

Jake Greer tossed in 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Aviators. Ryne Pugh and Jordan Greer added nine points apiece, and Sam Hershberger and Mark Tindall both scored eight.

“From the opening tip, I thought they were the aggressor in every possible situation,” Vickers said. “There wasn’t anything that surprised us. We just didn’t seem to have that level of urgency and concern.”

Butler had been preparing to face Morgan Park (Ill.), but found out Friday the Chicago-area team wouldn’t be coming.

Aviators coach Jeff Kreill said his crew responded with its best performance of the season Monday.

“By far,” said Kreill, with Butler halting a four-game losing streak. “It was nice to stop the bleeding. I thought our guys made the extra pass all day.”

East trailed 36-20 at halftime and was never closer than 14 in the last two periods. Keith Brady, Zach Panzeca, Myo Baxter and Alex White all marked six points for the Thunderhawks, and White snared a team-high five boards.

East returns to Greater Miami Conference play Friday night at Colerain.

Share this article