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Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Graham survives a major scare, and pulls out a 50-46 victory for D-II distrct title
In the end, Josh Schuler and the Graham Falcons were too tough and too much for the Cincinnati Indian Hill Braves.
But Ohio’s No. 1 Division II boys basketball team sure got a scare.
Schuler scored 17 points as the Falcons pulled out a 50-46 victory for one of three D-II district championships at University of Dayton Arena on Wednesday night.
Trailing 36-31 after three quarters, Graham surged ahead in the fourth quarter and barged into the state’s “Sweet 16” with a 24-0 record. The Falcons compete in next week’s regional.
Nursing a 40-39 lead with 4:00 to go, Graham held the ball for nearly two minutes before Ethan Ward scored on a back-door layup for a 42-39 lead they wouldn’t lose with 2:03 to go.
Graham sank 8 of 11 free throws the final 1:31 to seal the victory.
Two Schuler free throws with 33.8 to go gave the Falcons a 48-41 lead. The advantage seemed comfortable until Ryan Murphy’s 28-foot trey from way out top pulled the Braves within 48-44.
Wes Bonekemper’s 10-foot left baseline jumper for Indian Hill made the spread just three points (49-46) with 9.1 seconds to go.
But Ward hit the second of two free throws at 2.5 seconds to put the finishing touch on the Falcons’ victory.
Indian Hill’s season closes with a 21-3 record.
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