|
|
|
NOV.
12-13 — Goshen Proves Toughness At IUS Tournament
Leafs
beat PNC Friday; lose heart-breaking 78-77 OT decision in championship |
New
Albany, IN — When Goshen head coach Stan Daugherty set his team’s
2004-2005 schedule last year, he had hoped that a 17-day,
six-game road swing in November would make his team a tougher
bunch for Mid-Central
Conference play later in the season.
After this weekend’s slugfest at the Ramada Limited
Indiana University
Southeast Tournament, it might be working.
Goshen (5-1, 0-0) got a sluggish 76-71 win over Purdue University North Central
Friday night to set up a heavyweight clash in the championship game against the
host Grenadiers, and the title game didn’t disappoint: The Leafs had to
battle through injuries and tough playing conditions to compete with I.U. Southeast,
and Daugherty’s team nearly took home the championship trophy. Goshen fell
in bitter fashion to the host team, 78-77 in overtime.
“Overall, I think this entire weekend will help us prepare for the conference
and the intensity that is needed to compete in the MCC,” Daugherty said. “The
championship game of this tournament was one of the most competitive non-conference
games I’ve been a part of in the four years I have been at Goshen. We had
to come back after a short night’s rest to play against a tough opponent
on the road under difficult circumstances, and I thought we did that well.”
The Leafs arrived in the Louisville suburb to face off against a well-prepared
and disciplined Purdue North Central team Friday night, as a slow start from
Daugherty’s squad helped the Panthers build an early eight-point lead.
Goshen needed a spark from its bench — in the form of senior Troy Springer
and sophomore Willie Frazier — to help take control of the game, as the
Leafs eventually built a 10-point lead in the second half. Springer ended the
night with 10 points and seven rebounds, while Frazier tallied 12 points and
10 boards, 10 and eight of which came in the second half.
“We got off to a sluggish start and didn’t play with the energy that
we did in the first four games of the season,” Daugherty said. “Fortunately,
we played a little better as the game wore on and executed fairly well down the
stretch to keep the lead. Troy Springer and Willie Frazier played excellent coming
off the bench. They were the difference in the game.”
Aside from that duo’s output, Goshen was led by junior Eric Walsh’s
14 points, while classmates Tyler Sheerer and Jordan Buller chipped in 10 apiece.
Sophomore Matt Crawford notched eight points and seven rebounds, while the game
marked the return of sophomore guard David Haire. Haire had missed the Leafs’ first
four games of the year with a pulled hamstring. He scored four points in just
under nine minutes of work. The win over the Panthers marked the third time Goshen
placed at least four players in double-figure scoring in its five games.
“I thought this game was good for us in that we had to execute late in
the game and try to be successful when we were not playing our best basketball
as a team,” Daugherty said.
Playing a sluggish game was not an option for Daugherty’s team in Saturday’s
championship match, as the talented and undefeated Grenadiers walked over Indiana
Northwest University by an 86-68 score in Friday’s second game to advance
to the title bout.
Things were intense from the opening tip against I.U. Southeast, as Goshen raced
off to a 12-2 lead just four and a half minutes into the game. I.U. Southeast
quickly responded, going on a 10 to zero run of its own to tie the game at 12
apiece just two minutes later. That Grenadier run helped set the stage for a
knock-down, drag-out affair, as neither team would lead by more than five points
for the rest of the contest. After 14 lead changes and 16 ties, the two teams
would need an additional five minutes to decide the outcome: Down 69-66 with
four seconds to play, Crawford was fouled on a three-point attempt as the clock
expired in regulation. With both teams at their respective benches, Crawford
calmly drained three free throws to tie the game at 69, sending it to overtime.
It was Goshen that shot out to a five-point lead in the extra stanza, taking
a 75-70 advantage with 3:28 to play. I.U. Southeast responded again, taking advantage
of back-to-back Goshen turnovers to take a 78-77 lead. With 13 seconds remaining,
the Leafs would again have a chance to win the game: After taking a timeout to
set up a play, it was Sheerer who got a decent look at the basket, launching
a 15-footer with four seconds on the clock. His shot was just short, but it appeared
Frazier was there for the offensive rebound. Frazier was pushed out of bounds
going for the rebound, and the ball landed harmlessly to the floor.
“Our players played with great enthusiasm and intensity for the whole game,” Daugherty
said. “I was pleased with our competitiveness and our guys’ honest
encouragement of one another. We made some big shots to give us a chance to win
the game, but we came up just one basket short.”
And in a game of one huge possession after another, it was Goshen that had to
find a way to compete in banged-up fashion: Walsh suffered a dislocated finger
and received three stitches to his lower lip following the game — he fouled
out with 25 seconds to play in regulation — while Springer suffered a sprained
ankle early in the second period and did not return. On the game, the Grenadiers
held a hefty advantage in free throw attempts (14 of 23 to Goshen’s 10
of 14 output) but couldn’t outrebound the Leafs, as Goshen took a 47-40
decision in that department. More impressive was the Leafs’ holding I.U.
Southeast to just 11 offensive rebounds (Goshen had 11 o-boards as well) after
the Grenadiers secured 27 second-chance caroms against I.U. Northwest the night
before.
Walsh again led the Leafs in scoring, charting 19 points and six rebounds. Crawford
finished with 17 points on six of 11 shooting, while Buller chipped in 16 to
go with a team-high four assists. Senior Paul Kopanski finished with eight points
and a team-high 11 rebounds.
I.U. Northwest defeated Purdue North Central by a 72-70 score in the consolation
game. Crawford was named to the all-tournament team following his weekend’s
efforts.
“I thought our guys represented themselves well in some tough circumstances
and conditions,” Daughety said. “Hopefully this experience will continue
our growth together as a team. Now we have to be able to take this experience
and learn to be even more focused and execute better in close games.”
Goshen will return to action Tuesday night, when the team will travel to Davenport
University. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
|
 Sophomore
Willie Frazier
|
|
|
|
