1/14/2009 12:58:00 AM
Braves top Cougs in wild showdown
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BY JOHN SNODGRASS
Times Bulletin Sports Editor
sports@timesbulletin.com
DECATUR, Ind. - Van Wert jumped out to a 14-0 lead Monday evening at Bellmont High School. It didn't stick.
In a game that was all about rallies, the host Braves had the final say. Bellmont (4-2) outscored Van Wert 18-7 in the final quarter to take the 66-55 victory in Decatur, Ind.
"It was a game of runs, both teams, and they had one more at the end," Van Wert coach Dave Froelich said. "It was a tough game for us. We shot it early and fell in love with the jump shot. ... We just weren't as consistent as we needed to be."
Ethan Brege broke up the Van Wert (4-5) dominance with 3:20 to go in the first quarter. The guard's basket cut the Cougar lead to 12 at 14-2. The two schools exchanged buckets before Tyler Putman nailed a 3-pointer from the left side to give the Cougars their biggest lead of the evening at 15 - 19-4. The Braves scored the final five points of the quarter to pull within 10 at 19-9. Bellmont didn't stop there though.
The Braves opened the second quarter on a 12-0 run (a 16-0 run if the final four points of the first quarter are included) to take their first lead of the game at 21-19. Corey Clifton responded by driving to the basket on the next possession, drawing contact, and making his lay up. Clifton missed the ensuing free throw. The Braves twice built up a five-point lead (26-21 and 28-23) before an eight-point Van Wert run propelled the Cougars to a 31-28 halftime lead. During that end-of-the-half run, Josh Bolenbaugh scored six consecutive points for the Cougars, giving them a 29-28 lead. A pair of Evan Hammons free throws with 18 seconds to go rounded out the rally.
The third quarter saw much of the same as Bellmont pulled within three at 35-32 when Michael Buuck hit the first two of three free throw attempts. Van Wert responded by going on a 9-0 run that was capped when Jacob Bagley swished a trey from the right side, got knocked down, and made the following foul shot to complete a four-point play. The run put Van Wert back up by 12 (44-32). But, as was the pattern of the evening, a Braves rally wasn't far behind. Bellmont outscored Van Wert 16-4 down the stretch - including a 9-0 run to finish the quarter - pulling even when Berge hit an off-balance 3 from the right wing as time expired.
Bagley and Bolenbaugh were the only two Cougars to score in the third quarter with Bolenbaugh collecting eight in the quarter and Bagley nine.
With the game knotted at 48 to begin the final frame, Bellmont quickly took the lead on a pair of 3s by Tyler Engstrom and Michael Stidam. An Evans bucket with 5:40 remaining in the game was the first Cougar basket of the quarter. It pulled the Cougars within four (54-50). A 6-0 run by Bellmont, however, gave the Braves a 13-point lead (63-50) and sealed the victory.
Outside of the game's crazy runs, the other story of Tuesday evening was the amount of whistle blowing. Bellmont was called for 21 personal fouls and the Cougars 20. Van Wert also turned the ball over 17 times while the Braves committed 10 miscues. All the stoppages left both coaches visibly upset and both sets of fans frustrated. Justifiably so.
"Quite honestly, it wasn't a basketball game in the second half, both ways," Froelich said. "I am not saying that's why we lost, but it's a travesty to the sport when it turns into that. Both ways."
Bagley finished the night with 19 points while Bolenbaugh chipped in 14. Buuck led all scorers with 22. Stidam added 15 and Brege 14. Bolenbaugh led Van Wert with six rebounds (four offensive) while Brege grabbed seven for the Braves.
Bellmont made eight of its 32 3-point attempts Tuesday evening (33.3 percent) while VAn Wert shot 40 percent from beyond the arc (6 of 15). The Cougars were 11 of 15 from the foul line (73.3 percent) while Bellmont made 12 of 19 (63.2 percent).
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