The matchup featured two of the better Division III squads in Greater Cincinnati, with the Rams falling to 7-5 and the Blue Devils improving to 8-3.
“This was one of our biggest games of the year for seeding in the tournament,” Badin coach Nick Argentati said. “To not play all that well in a game you’ve been talking about for the last week or so is pretty disappointing.”
The Rams surged to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter, but Reading rallied with a 19-7 second stanza to take a 22-21 advantage into the break.
The rest was even. It was deliberate, defensive-minded basketball.
“I thought it could’ve played out like that,” Blue Devils coach Rich Bensman said. “That’s the best team we’ve played all year along.”
Scott Purcell and Colton Mehlman both scored 11 points for Badin. Brian Wells had eight points, Mehlman grabbed six rebounds and Purcell added six assists.
Ben Gertz paced Reading with 19 points and snapped a 39-39 deadlock with 14 seconds left, converting a short, off-balance jumper.
“He got on the block and was tough with two guys on him, and he stuck a turnaround jump shot,” Argentati said. “He’s their big-time player, and he made shots all night long.”
Purcell launched two 3-pointers in the closing seconds. The senior was heavily guarded and forced a shot with 0:04 left, and after teammate Jeff Smith got the rebound and a timeout was called with one tick remaining, he was off the mark from the right wing at the buzzer.
“I wanted to make up for missing the first one,” Purcell said. “I was trying to fade away a little bit, and I thought it was good. Then I saw the ball fall a little short and off to the side a little bit, and it was over.”
Argentati said the best option was Smith inbounding the ball to Mehlman on a lob. But the 6-foot-5 junior wasn’t open, so Smith went to Purcell.
“We were thinking lob and looking at a lot of inside stuff to tie the game,” Bensman said. “We weren’t ready for the 3. He got a pretty good look.”
Argentati said the Rams’ early fouling was a key factor in the loss. RHS sank 17-of-23 free throws — Badin was 5-of-8.
“If we maintain a lead, then all of a sudden they’re trying to force things in the second half,” Argentati said. “We made the game slow by racking up a bunch of dumb fouls early.”
About the Author