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Miami RedHawks football
BOYS' BASKETBALL Fairmont 65, South 58
South can't sink free throws
Wildcats go cold from the foul line as late rally falls short against the Firebirds, missing a chance to get back to .500.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
SPRINGFIELD — Granted, making foul shots has not been one of the most deadly in South High School's traditional arsenal of weapons.
But this basketball season, coach Bill Slagle thought his team had turned the corner in that department.
Trey Depriest (left) of South collides with Drew Sawyer of Kettering Fairmont during the Firebirds' 65-58 Greater Western Conference win Friday night at South's Tiffany Gym. Until Friday night.
The Wildcats were ice-cold from the line for most of the night, and by the time they warmed up, it was too late as a fourth-quarter rally came up short in a 65-58 loss to Fairmont at Tiffany Gym.
South made just 14-of-26 foul shots on the night, including missing 1-of-2 foul shots nine times — six times in the fourth quarter alone.
"That's the difference in the game right there," said Slagle, whose team fell to 5-7 overall and 2-4 in the Greater Western Ohio Conference, missing its chance to get back to .500. "Up until now, we were shooting free throws higher than we have in the last five or six years. We came into the game shooting 64 percent."
The Wildcats spent most of the night battling back and forth with the Firebirds (5-6, 2-4 GWOC). They held slim leads of 15-14 after one quarter and 29-27 at the half. But with Fairmont up 39-37 with just three seconds left in the third, the Firebirds' Logan Rucker turned the momentum with a long 3-point goal from just over the half-court line as time expired.
"It was a big difference, being down five instead of being down two," said Slagle. "Him hitting that shot was tough."
The shot ignited the Firebirds. After South's Michael Cooper hit 1-of-2 foul shots to open the final stanza, Fairmont netted the next six points to build its biggest lead of the night at 48-38. The Firebirds pushed the lead to 11 points twice, but South pushed back.
A steal and a layup, and 'Cats freshman Akeem Freeman hitting both foul shots at the 3:29 mark (the first time for South all night) got them rolling. They cut it to five, and then four. But Fairmont hit its foul shots just enough to come away a winner.
"The kids played hard and didn't quit," said Slagle. "We can take some things away from tonight. I just feel bad that the former players didn't get to see us win."
All former South basketball players in attendance were honored in a special ceremony at halftime.
Cooper had 18 points to pace South, while teammate Lucas Smith added 16 points and five assists.
