Posted: Saturday, February 20, 2010 1:00 am | Updated: 1:13 am, Sat Feb 20, 2010.
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
After getting an 11-point lead early in the fourth quarter on senior night, the Northwestern Tigers had to scrap in the final seconds to get a victory over the Eastern Comets Friday at Northwestern High School, 54-53.
Northwestern senior Aaron Snoddy scored the first points of the Howard County Tournament rematch and Tigers led the game until Eastern senior Joby Renbarger's gave the Comets a 30-29 lead at 4:22 to go in the third quarter. The lead was short lived as the Tigers scored seven consecutive points to increase its lead to 36-30.
The run ended on Eastern junior Blake Donson's made lay-up off an offensive rebound and made foul shot with 1:35 to go in the third quarter. The Tigers responded with a three-pointer from sophomore Tanner Thomas to close the quarter with a 39-33 lead.
The Tigers opened the fourth quarter on a 6-1 run on two made three-pointers by Thomas and junior Bryan Beachy to give them a 45-34 lead at 6:47 to go in the game. From here, the Comets went on a 16-5 run for the next four minutes to tie the game at 50-50 with a Renbarger field goal at 2:39 to go.
This run may have been déjà vu for the Tigers as they lost a 12-point fourth-quarter lead Wednesday on the way to losing the game, 59-50, but the Tigers did their best to persevere Friday.
"We had that same type of game against Hamilton Heights the other night," Northwestern coach Jim Gish said. "In the third quarter, we were really strong with the basketball and strong mentally and going into the fourth quarter we still have things that we need to work on."
After Northwestern senior Brayden Merrell split at the foul line, the Comets took a 52-51 lead with 2:01 remaining on junior Wes Horner's drive to the hoop, but he could not convert the foul shot.
With 47 seconds to go, Eastern's Horner forced a Northwestern turnover, but as soon as that happened Northwestern sophomore Kylan Dubbels stole the ball back and drove to the basket where he was fouled. Dubbels made both foul shots to give the Tigers a 53-52 lead with 34.4 seconds remaining. The Tigers added another free throw from Merrell with 10.3 seconds to go.
With less than 10 seconds remaining, the Comets appeared to be finished until Renbarger was fouled on the baseline with 1.1 seconds remaining. He had an opportunity to tie the game by making both free throws. Northwestern called a time-out to ice Renbarger, but he made the first foul shot. Northwestern called another time-out and on the second-foul shot Renbarger's shot bounced off the rim and Donson tried to put in the rebound, but it was no good.
"I really praise our kids for battling back down 11 points with 6 minutes to go," Eastern coach Duane Keisling said. "I got to hand it to the kids for pursuing that. Mixing up the defense bothered Northwestern a little bit and I think that's what got the momentum change for us late in the game. "
The Tigers still clawed their way and used the crowd to their advantage late in the game.
"The thing I enjoyed the most is that we switched into three different defenses in about the last 2:14 of the game," Gish said. "In each of those three defenses, the kids followed the rules and game plan put in to place by each defense to a ‘T.' If you are going to do what you are supposed to do, you usually get descent results."
Renbarger's 15 points led Eastern and sophomore Joey Price joined him with 11 points in double-figures.
Treadway's 19 points led Northwestern. Merrell joined him in double-figures with 10 points.
Eastern (9-8, 2-5 MIC) next takes the court at Elwood 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Northwestern's (11-7, 3-4 MIC) next opponent is at 2A no. 4 Tipton 7:30 p.m. Saturday; its fourth game in 10 days.
"We're looking it as an opportunity," Gish said. "Let's pretend like it's the sectional championship. We know Tipton is a really good team and we are going in as the underdog."
On Northwestern senior night, Gish was proud of his four seniors, Brayden Merrell, Raymond Schaaf, Aaron Snoddy and Jared Treadway.
"These four young men are very good basketball players, but they are better people," he said. "They have done such a marvelous job this whole year portraying themselves and the team and Northwestern community in such a positive light. They do things the right way on and off the court."
Scores by quarter:
Eastern 11 13 9 20 =53
Northwestern 16 11 12 15 =54
Other games Friday:
Kokomo 61 (14-5, 6-1 NCC)
Richmond 46 (13-7, 1-6 NCC)
Western 62 (12-6, 5-2 MIC)
Lewis Cass 43 (7-12, 1-6 MIC)
Carroll 40 (9-9, 3-0 HHC)
#16-2A Taylor 55 (12-7, 4-3 MIC)
Maconaquah 52 (7-11, 2-5 MIC)
Hamilton Heights 49 (12-6, 4-2 MIC)
Rochester 52 (12-6, 4-3 TRC)
#2-3A Peru 56 (17-1, 6-0 MIC)
#4-2A Tipton 65 (14-3, 6-0 Hoosier)
Frankfort 55 (8-11, 2-3 Sagamore)
Clinton Prairie 68 (4-14, 1-3 HHC)
Tri-Central 77 (8-10, 3-2 HHC)
Saturday games:
Clinton Central (1-16, 0-5 HHC) at Western (12-6, 5-2 MIC), 7:30
Eastern (9-8, 2-5 MIC) at Elwood (3-16), 7:30
Northwestern (11-7, 3-4 MIC) at #4-2A Tipton (14-3, 6-0 Hoosier), 7:30
Hamilton Heights (12-6, 4-2 MIC) at Madison-Grant (11-5, 5-1 CIC), 7:30
Monday game:
Tri-Central at Maconaquah, 7:30
Tuesday games:
Northwestern at Oak Hill, 7:30
Wabash at Eastern, 7:30
Lewis Cass at #4-2A Tipton, 7:30
#2-3A Peru at North Miami, 7:30
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