MdCV boys hold off Hartford
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Originally published 02:00 p.m., February 19, 2008
Updated 02:00 p.m., February 19, 2008
Hartford’s Cody Barrett missed a 3-pointer to tie it at the buzzer, and Marais des Cygnes Valley held on for a 45-42 victory in the first round of Regionals on Monday in Melvern.
The Trojans built their lead up to eight points in the fourth quarter before watching it start to dwindle.
MdCV missed three front ends of one-and-ones, opening the door for Hartford to get back into it.
“The game got real interesting real quick,” MdCV coach Thad Thurston said.
The Jaguars closed the gap to three but couldn’t get their final shot to fall.
MdCV was sparked by the inside play of forward Dennis Becker.
After getting off to a slow start, the 6-foot-7 senior scored 14 of his team’s 25 points in the second half.
He also played well defensively, holding Hartford’s leading scorer Justin Farr to just four points.
“That was huge,” Thurston said. “I think both teams were going in knowing that their big guy had to score.”
Becker finished with 20 points to lead the Trojans. Matthew McGowin added seven points.
Taylor Heckathorn paced Hartford with 14 points, while Barrett contributed 11.
MdCV advances to play top-seeded Olpe on Thursday in the second round of Regionals at Hartford.
MdCV boys 45, Hartford 42
Monday at Melvern
Hartford 8 10 11 13 — 42
MdCV 10 10 13 12 — 45
Hartford — Adam Ewy 6, Storm Cartee 5, Cody Barrett 11, Taylor Heckathorn 14, Justin Farr 4, Ethan Beemer 2.
MdCV — Matthew McGowin 7, Chisom Spencer 4, Michael Spillman 6, Brandon Litch 3, Drew Woodruff 5, Dennis Becker 20.
Halftime — MdCV 20-18. Total fouls — Hartford 12, MdCV 8. Fouled out — Hartford: Ewy.
Madison boys 56, SCC 45
The Madison Bulldogs ended up doing exactly what coach Alan Brown asked them to do in a 56-45 victory over Southern Coffey County on Monday in the first round of Regionals at Madison.
Brown talked with his team about following coach Jim Valvano’s postseason mantra: “Survive and advance.”
Though the Bulldogs didn’t play their best, they did both survive and advance, moving one step closer to a Sub-State berth by holding on against SCC.
“We didn’t play as well as we’re capable of,” Brown said, “but we still did come out with the victory.”
Madison took a 15-8 lead after the first quarter and a 31-20 advantage into the break.
“At halftime, we talked about how we needed to get on the boards,” Brown said, “and we did that for the most part in the second half.”
SCC put together a mini 14-8 run to close the deficit to five, but the Bulldogs answered with a 17-11 spurt in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
Madison received major contributions from its bench. Bench player Kale Schankie led the Bulldogs with 12 points, while reserve Chris Schultz also came in and hit a crucial second-half 3-pointer.
Kaleb Schankie added 11 points, while Eric Porter had nine and Michael Luthi contributed eight.
Madison moves on to face second-seeded Colony Crest in the second round of Regionals on Thursday at Hartford.
Crest defeated Waverly, 55-32, on Monday to reach the Regional semifinals.
Madison boys 56, Southern Coffey County 45
Monday at Madison
Madison 15 16 8 17 — 56
SCC 8 12 14 11 — 45
Madison — Kale Schankie 12, Kaleb Schankie 11, Eric Porter 9, Michael Luthi 8, Sid Childers 6, Caleb Hamilton 4, Henry Ott 3, Chris Schultz 3.
SCC — Redding 14, Kraft 9, C. Ludolph 8, Meyer 6, Craft 5, J. Ludolph 2, A. Ludolph 1.
Halftime — Madison 31-20. Total fouls — Madison 17, SCC 23. Fouled out — SCC: Kraft, A. Ludolph. C. Ludolph.