December 21, 1999

Senecas wear down Jackets in showdown

By Ed Fox
Sports Writer

Sometimes showdown battles don't live up to expectations.

That wasn't the case with Monday's Midland Athletic League confrontation between Calvert and New Riegel with sole possession of the league lead at stake.

It came down to who was the strongest closer and the Senecas proved just that with a 21-12 advantage over the final eight minutes to remain undefeated on the season with a 77-68 win.

Each team had its moments prior to the fourth quarter.

The Senecas, 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the MAL, stormed from the gate for a 28-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.

New Riegel, falling to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the league, battled back to get within two (41-39) and even took a 54-43 lead midway through the third quarter only to have the Senecas come back to knot the score at 56-all on a 3-pointer by Bart Fisher with 24 seconds left in the period.

The start of the fourth quarter took on similar looks as the opening stanza with the Senecas having a 15-5 advantage over the first 5 1/2 minutes to take a 71-61 lead and New Riegel was never able to get closer than seven (75-68) the rest of the way.

Joe Harvey ignited the fourth quarter spurt by the Senecas with six of their first 15 points of the period. Calvert hit six of its first 10 shots from the floor while the Blue Jackets struggled with just 2-of-11 and also had seven turnovers.

"I thought our kids showed a lot of character and poise in coming back after falling behind in the third quarter," said Calvert coach Tony Mass. "We shot ourselves out to a big lead in the first quarter and we shot ourselves out of the lead in the second and third periods. Our kids are looking to attack and attack means shoot to them and that's the way I like it."

Attacking was just what Calvert did at the outset while hitting 12-of-20 shots to take a 28-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. Ben Brickner was on fire with 13 of his team-leading 16 points and Harvey, who finished with 15, also chipped in with five points.

In the first quarter the Blue Jackets were guilty of 14 turnovers and connected on just 4-of-11 action shots.

It was the Blue Jackets catching fire in the second period with Jason Humphrey having 11 of his game-leading 22 points and Corey Gillig had 10 of his 19 points in the second period. Brett Hammer also nailed a pair of treys in the final 17 seconds of the quarter to get New Riegel within two (41-39) at intermission. Hammer went on to finish with 11 points.

"We were a little bit in awe at the outset and maybe too psyched for the game and we let them get a huge lead," said New Riegel coach Rick DeMoss. "Then we fought like the dickens and spent so much energy to get back in it that the wheels came off in the fourth quarter and we got tired. We started missing shots in the fourth quarter that we normally are going to hit."

Shortly after New Riegel took a 54-43 lead Steve Tiell was tagged with his third personal and momentum quickly swung in favor of the Senecas who went on a 13-2 run to close the final 3:16 of the third quarter.

A pair of treys by Fisher played a key as the Senecas battled back to tie the score at 56-all. Fisher scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half.

Kevin Cahill got free inside for a bucket to give the Senecas a 58-56 lead with 6:05 to go and Harvey got a layup off a New Riegel turnover for a 60-56 lead.

After a trey by Gillig the Senecas got back-to-back buckets from Harvey and Fisher. Gillig hit again to cut the Calvert lead to three (64-61) with 4:15 remaining.

Tim Brodman knocked down a pair of charity tosses and Harvey scored off another steal and the Senecas held on the rest of the way.

The Senecas featured good balanced scoring. In addition to the three in doubles, Brodman had nine and both Dustyn Risner and Eric Lee had eight.

"We've been getting good balance all season and that's because they do a good job of finding each other," said Mass. "We made some adjustments in the second half to get to their shooters.

"After they (New Riegel) got out to the big lead in the third quarter they slowed it down and I thought that played right into our hands. They were just beating us down the court. We just thought if we could get back quick and set up in a 2-3 zone and force them to throw the ball around a bit and take them out of their rhythm and it worked.

"Then we went to a 1-3-1 and were able to get people in the face of their 3-point shooters and it got them out of sync.

"Even though this was early this was a big one in the league because the winner of this one has a jump on the other."