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On this date in area sports history …
Ten years ago on this date, March 11, 1999, the Graham boys basketball team lost by two points in the district championship. Complete story on the jump.
Published March 12, 1999
GRAHAM FALLS SHORT IN FRANTIC LAST MINUTE.
Byline: By Matt Thompson, News-Sun Sports Writer
DAYTON — For those who were parking the car and missed the first, oh, 31 minutes or so, there was still plenty to see in the final minute of Graham’s Division II district final Thursday night against Cincinnati McNicholas.
Sadly for the Falcons, however, a basket wasn’t one of them, as the Rockets managed just enough defense to hold onto a 45-43 decision at University of Dayton Arena, an NBA-distance three-point attempt by Graham’s Josh Jordan falling short as time expired.
“What a chain of events that was,” said McNicolas Coach Jerry Doerger, who looked more like an assassination attempt survivor than a victorious basketball coach. “I’m a believer that you’ve got to be lucky occasionally, to get a game you didn’t deserve to win … I’m not saying we didn’t deserve to win, but they outplayed us in a lot of ways.”
Still, that last minute — 42 seconds, really — left most in the crowd shaking their heads … or just plain shaken.
“A lot of different things were happening,” understated Graham Coach Dave Zeller.
A sampling:
The teams came into the final minute with the final score already set, the winning points coming at the 2:31 mark courtesy a Brad Cupito layup … a basket he converted off a bad Graham pass he intercepted.
Twice, potential go-ahead three-pointers by Falcon senior Derek VanHoose rattled inside the rim and bounced out. The last one, especially, looked good.
“I thought that one would’ve gone,” said Zeller.
With just over 30 seconds left, Cupito went to the line to shoot the front half of a one-and-one, and banged the ball off the front of the rim. Both Jordan and teammate Ryan Shamblin battled for the rebound, only to see it go out of bounds, right back to the Rockets.
- With 14.6 seconds on the clock and Graham scrambling to foul, McNicholas was called for a five-second violation, handing the ball back to the Falcons. After one failed inbounds attempt, Graham got it in to Shamblin, who was promptly called for an over-and-back violation.
“That was crucial,” said Zeller, who said he couldn’t tell if it was a good call or not. “That’s a crucial play.”
- With eight seconds left, Cupito missed yet another free-throw attempt, and the crazy rebound eventually fell into Shamblin’s hands, who bobbled it, fought off a Rocket defender, and somehow managed to get the ball upcourt to Jordan, who launched his off-balance three from the top of the key as time expired.
“At one point, I’d think we’d have it made,” Doerger said. “Then they’d get the ball again. Then I’d think we had it made again, and they’d get the ball back.
“It was just, hectic.”
As it was, Graham provided a much stiffer test than the 19-5 Rockets had expected. Averaging roughly 85 points a game so far in the tournament, McNicholas found one of its leading scorers, Ryan Ogletree, held to one basket and its 6-foot-6 center, Ryan Caldwell, held to 11 points of 4-of-16 shooting.
“They were a lot quicker team than my scouts told me,” said Doerger. “A lot better, really.
“Our press gave ‘em a little trouble, but not really the trouble we’ve given other teams.”
Graham, which played just five guys the entire game, did the most damage on first-half drive-and-dishes to Ryan Shamblin, who slipped in for easy layups and a game-high 18 points.
No other Falcon finished in double-figures, although Jordan, VanHoose and Brett Spriggs had solid games, particularly when solving — and penetrating — McNicholas’ full-court press.
Zach Schmidt, who was a perfect 5 for 5 on the night — including a 4-for-4 showing from three-point range — led the Rockets with 14 points.
Graham finishes the season 12-11.
CIN. McNICHOLAS (45) — Schmidt 5 0-0 14, Moore 2 0-0 4, Caldwell 4 2-4 11, Ogletree 1 0-0 2, Cupito 4 0-2 9, Brinck 1 0-1 2, Fullarton 1 0-0 3. Totals: 18 2-7 45.
GRAHAM (43) — VanHoose 2 1-1 6, Jordan 2 2-2 7, Shamblin 9 0-1 18, Roberts 2 0-0 6, Spriggs 2 2-2 6. Totals: 17 5-6 43.
Cin. McNicholas18 23 38 45
Graham16 29 36 43
Three-point goals: Cincinnati McNicholas 7 (Schmidt 4, Caldwell, Cupito, Fullarton), Graham 4 (Roberts 2, VanHoose, Jordan)
Records: Cincinnati McNicholas 19-5, Graham 12-11
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