By Drew Terhall
DailyAdvocate.com
ARCANUM — Within the championship sport on the Jet Vacation Match at Franklin Monroe, the hosts fall in extra time to an undefeated Maumee Valley Nation Day staff, 54-52, on Dec. 28.
Head coach Troy Myers mentioned Maumee simply was in a position to make their exterior pictures once they wanted to for this win. However, he was proud to see the expansion of this staff in a stress state of affairs like this.
“I feel two weeks in the past, we’d not have even identified the way to attempt to shut out that sport. The final two and half minutes of the fourth quarter have been brutal. We didn’t get the stops that we wanted,” Myers mentioned. “We simply mentioned in there, ‘We’re not joyful by any means, however we’re proud.’ You could be happy with the trouble, happy with the plan, happy with the self-discipline that our youngsters have for all however two and half minutes of the sport.”
The sport began out barely in Franklin Monroe’s favor. Each groups have been enjoying sound protection and wouldn’t let a lot by them. Some offensive fouls by each groups additionally stored the halftime rating low.
The Jets had a 21-17 lead heading into halftime. Whereas the offense wasn’t buzzing, their protection and rebounding helped them achieve an edge within the sport.
Within the third quarter, the Hawks have been in a position to tie the sport at 32-32 to finish the third quarter. The Jets had just a few turnovers that the Hawks took benefit of and scored in transition off of them.
Late within the sport, junior Eric Brenner and sophomore Lucas Brenner each made clutch performs to maintain Franklin Monroe out in entrance.
Lucas made a layup to provide the Jets a 38-36 lead with 5:15 remaining. They held onto that lead till the ultimate seconds. Myers mentioned Lucas grew up this sport and vastly improved his ball dealing with expertise and his command of the offense. It’s even improved from 14 days in the past.
Eric had 27 factors and made 5 three-point pictures within the sport. He would make the large shot when Franklin Monroe wanted it. He additionally needed to free throws late to go up 47-44 within the fourth.
Myers mentioned Eric has develop into a extra dynamic scorer as he can rating inside and outdoors. He’s somebody the staff can depend on once they want a bucket.
“Individuals attempt to cease EB (Fall), that’s no secret. You’re taking him away, however now there’s another person dynamic on the ground. He’s been in a position to stretch the protection for us and do a fantastic job,” Myers mentioned.
Myers mentioned the staff is bettering in direction of having 5 guys on the ground who can put stress on the rim offensively, however they’re nonetheless working in direction of that.
After Eric Brenner made these two free throws, Maumee went down the ground and tied the sport up with a 3 with 32 seconds left.
Even after a Franklin Monroe turnover gave the ball again to Maumee, the Jets protection held on to ship the sport into extra time.
The Jets had some possibilities to seal this sport from the free throw line. They have been 9 for 14 from the free throw line. They made most of their possibilities, however simply wanted yet one more to get that win.
Maumee scored the primary 5 factors of extra time. However like he has all sport, Eric Brenner made a 3 with underneath a minute left to tie the sport at 52-52.
The Hawks ran down the clock to 14.1 seconds left and known as a timeout. Out of the timeout, they have been in a position to rating with about 4 seconds left. Senior Christian Majors was in a position to get the layup in for the lead.
Franklin Monroe known as a timeout and drew up a play to provide Fall the ball, regardless of him not having a made subject purpose within the sport. Myers mentioned with all the work Fall has put in, there wasn’t a second thought to provide him an opportunity to make a play or make the shot.
“I’m alright with that ball in his palms. He places in a unprecedented period of time to his sport. You give up the end result while you put it in somebody’s palms that you simply’ve spent sufficient time within the fitness center with, you belief. I wouldn’t take it again,” Myers mentioned.
The shot simply bounced off the rim as Maumee got here away with the win and the match trophy.
Myers mentioned he hopes this expertise will educate his staff that each possession is magnified in a sport like this. To arrange for these moments, each rep in observe has to attempt to emulate that feeling.
“What we have to study from that is each two-point sport, these possession are so magnified you can’t give grace to any possession since you suppose it doesn’t matter. Or any rep in observe since you suppose it doesn’t matter. On the finish while you want self-discipline and you could get a cease or you could get a bucket, you higher have practiced that and also you higher be locked in,” Myers mentioned.
Myers is assured his staff will bounce again from this loss and study from it. All season lengthy, Myers have raved concerning the staff’s drive to place within the further work and eager to get higher.
Eric Brenner completed with 27 factors and a spot on the all-tournament staff. Majors was named the match MVP.
Fall and Lucas Brenner every had eight factors within the sport. Senior Gage Wackler was the one different Jet to make a three-point shot. The Jets completed 20 for 26 from the free throw line.
Franklin Monroe is now 7-2 on the season with a 3-1 convention report. They gained’t have a sport till Jan. 5 once they host Bradford. Myers mentioned the additional break day will assist get this staff wholesome as they have been lacking some guys on this sport. They primarily performed six gamers on this sport.
Contact Each day Advocate sports activities editor Drew Terhall at [email protected]