Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Game One: Bowling 49 - Russellville 47
Fire up the cement mixer. Prime the paver. Check the ballast of the road and make sure the guardrails are sturdy and straight. Wednesday night in the Fourth Region Tournament, the Bowling Green Purples tossed some of the key ingredients into the equipment needed to pave the Road to Rupp Arena. They grabbed the hearts of the Russellville Panthers and threw them into the paving machine.
In the first quarter, it looked like Bowling Green was going to ride the momentum of their district championship right past Russellville. Their defense frustrated the Panthers, and Russellville could not find any way of rebounding out of their 2-3 zone. The Purples doubled them up in the first, 12-6.
The Purples opened the second quarter in the same fashion, expanding their lead to 10 points. However, Russellville exploded on an 18-1 run that left the Purples stunned. Coach D.G. Sherrill tried everything to snap his team out of their funk, even benching his starters. Donnie Bigbee and Justin Bollenbecker hit some big baskets while the Panthers mauled the Purples. Russellville took a 25-19 lead to the locker room after outscoring Bowling Green 19 to 7 in the second frame.
In the third quarter Russellville wanted the game more than Bowling Green. They crashed the boards and fought for every possession. Their zone neutralized the Purples' leading scorer, D.L. Moore, who picked up his third foul with 4:28 left in the quarter and having only scored five points. Plus, the Panthers were not fazed by Bowling Green's pressure defense. Damien Elam did a superb job of finding his way through their press and their traps.
Russellville played a lot better than what their 16-12 record would indicate. They seemed bound to win the game, closing the third frame with a 37-29 lead.
Tournaments always seem to produce unlikely heroes. If Pick and Roll readers went back and read my synopses of Bowling Green's games this season, I'd bet they'd be hard pressed to find the name Charlie Williams. He's a lanky kid about 6'2" tall and plays sparingly. Wednesday night, Charlie saved Bowling Green's bacon in the fourth quarter. He scored seven points in the game, all of which were in the final quarter. He hit two huge baskets off of rebounds that pulled his team within four of Russellville. He later hit a three that narrowed the score again.
Bowling Green was doing everything needed to lose the ballgame: sloppy play, missed free throws, and turnovers. They only had 10 turnovers for the game, but most were on critical possessions.
Around the 4:00 mark I noticed something about Russellville. They looked tired, grabbing the hems of their shorts and leaning forward a lot. They started missing free throws, including the front end of a one-and-one.
With under a minute to play, Bowling Green pulled tied the ballgame. Damien Elam made one of two free throws that gave the Panthers a one point lead. They fouled D.L. Moore, who stepped to the free throw line with a one-and-one looming. He hit the front end but missed the second.
I'm going to be completely honest. I cannot remember what Russellville did with their possession, but I know they did not score.
Bowling Green came back down the court for the win. They got several offensive rebound but could not put the ball in the basket. Russellville fouled Billy Williams (no relation to Charlie), and he went to the line for another 1+1 with 2.2 seconds left in the game.
He missed the free throw and the ball bounced out long. Williams grabbed the rebound and tossed the ball toward the basket. It went in as the horn sounded. Bowling Green, to use an old time sports cliche, snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Final 49-47.
Russellville's Donnie Bigbee, who left everything he had on the court, fell down near the lane while the Bowling Green fans and players and coaches erupted. It's one of those heart wrenching moments that all of us basketball fans see throughout the month of March. So, that's how Bigbee's high school career ends -- heartbreak.
Meanwhile, Billy Williams went from a zero to a hero in 2.2 seconds. He was Player of the Game. He probably deserved it, but I'm willing to bet that the Bowling Green coaching staff knows that a Williams of a different first name got their beans out of the fire.
When I looked at the stats of Wednesday's game, I saw a lot of similarities between the two teams. Russellville edged Bowling Green on the boards 31-30. Bowling Green shot a terrible 36.5% from the field, but hit 19 field goals. Russellville hit 18. They both had four three pointers, and both shot poorly from the field.
The difference, in my humble opinion, was that Bowling Green had 14 offensive rebounds while the Panthers only had five. In a tight game, it makes all the difference in the world. Russellville played very good zone defense but could not keep the Purps off the offensive glass.
Game Two: Russell County 62 - Glasgow 50
Any day now, I'm expecting to receive notice from the Glasgow Independent School System that I'm not welcome at any of their basketball games for eternity. I've seen the Scotties play three time this season, and they've lost all three times. Somehow, I've become bad medicine for them.
In my Fourth Region Preview, I confessed that I knew nothing about the Russell County Lakers. I'd forgotten about seeing them play in last year's Fourth Region tournament, when -- if my memory serves me right -- they beat a very good Allen County-Scottsville team in the first round and then lost to Warren Central.
Mostly, I remember that the Lakers are a team that does everything thing right all the way down to how they maintain their spacing as they move the ball around on the offense. They do everything that drives an opponent crazy. They set great picks. They shoot well. The rebound very well for their size. They play tough defense and always slap at the ball. I don't know what Coach Willie Feldhaus does, but he has his 13-13 squad playing like they are ready to stroll out on the court with the Bryan Stations, Holmeses, and University Heights of the world. I think they had a similar record last season and made the regional semifinals.
On Wednesday night, they used their precise game to beat the Scottie dogs. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) will be searching for the Lakers after the way they treated the Scotties at Diddle Arena. When Russell County went on a 19-6 run in the second quarter, Glasgow seemed to roll over and play dead. They had a 28-16 lead at the half.
Glasgow tried to get back in the game, but they played sloppy. Jordan Johnson took several ill-advised shots after driving into the lane with no options on what to do with the ball. He was 4-12 from the field. Craig Mosier was 2-10 from the field and 0-8 from three point range.
I noticed that Russell County shot 42 free throws compared to Glasgow's 17. The Lakers shot 76.2% from the stripe (32-42).
For the Lakers Bryson McFall had 16 points to lead all scorers. Russell County also had very balanced scoring: Timmy Coffey, who was Player of the Game, had 14 points along with 13 rebounds. Bryon Ellis had 12 points and eight boards, while Adam Justice added nine points.
Lakers advance to meet Bowling Green on Monday night.
OBSERVATIONS
Hey Diddle Diddle: Everyone swoons about Rupp Arena. It's magnitude puts it on the basketball map. While Diddle Arena is much smaller, it is the best place I've ever been to watch a basketball game. If any Pick and Roll Readers haven't ever seen a game at this wonderful arena, I strongly suggest that they pick up and catch a Fourth Region tournament game or a Hilltopper game there. I've seen basketball in a lot of places, and Diddle is..."TOPS." The stands are very close to the floor and steep, so there's not a bad seat in the house.
Double Justice: The Russell County Lakers have Lucas and Adam Justice on their squad. They are twins and wear uniform numbers 21 and 22. Both are sophomores but get significant playing time and both are good. They will keep Fourth Region opponents seeing double for a couple of more years. Lucas Justice went to the floor hard in the first half and also busted his nose.
Life of Riley: I noticed Warren Central Coach Tim Riley doing color for one of the radio stations on Wednesday night. It was odd seeing him on the "other" side of the court at Diddle Arena.
A Glasgow Pup: Michael Bradley, who logged 22 minutes for the Scotties tonight, is just a freshman. He is athletic and can jump out of the gym. He had four points and nine rebounds on Wednesday night. When he learns that basketball is a contact sport, then he'll be an excellent ballplayer.
A New Doo: Bowling Green's D.L. Moore appears to be singlehandedly trying to bring back banana clips as hair accessories. I don't even know how to describe his styling, but it's definitely different. I guess the re-release of "Thriller" got Mr. Moore in an 80's kind of mood tonight. Now, he just needs Cheeno pants, a pink Polo shirt, a Members Only jacket, and penny loafers.
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