03-02-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
JUNCTION

Following a third quarter push Coach Jeff Mandrell's club was up 60-46 heading into the last eight minutes of what should have been a waltz to SIU Arena and a second straight supersectional.

But the Trojans turned up the music and the dance step they chose made wallflowers out of the Bobcats for about four minutes.

Behind the stellar play of 6-foot-5 senior forward Ben Kissing, Crab Orchard rallied late put a scare into the state's top-ranked team.

Kissing started the fourth quarter by scoring eight-straight points to suddenly put the Trojans back into contention.

Meridian survived the scare by making just enough defense stops and just enough free throws in the final minutes to improve to 28-2 on the season with the 75-67 win in front of nearly 2,500 fans at Gallatin County.

“They are tough. I think every year Crab Orchard is underrated. I see them once or twice a year and they shoot the heck out of the ball. They get after you and they are usually pretty quick,” said Coach Jeff Mandrell. “This Kissing kid is just a monster. You can slow him down, maybe. But you can't stop him. And when you honor that, he can kick it out to the little guys who can shoot it. It was a tough, hard-nosed game and you just want to win.”

The Bobcats put four players in double-figures in scoring in the win with 6-foot sophomore Michael Schoffner topping the list with 19-points.

Cameron Ballard added 18-points while Joshua Jones and Jerry Johnson added 14 and 10.

Meridian struggled putting the Trojans away, missing four consecutive shots to begin the fourth quarter which allowed Crab Orchard to dust themselves off and get back into the race.

The Trojans cut the lead down to six points twice in that final frame but simply ran out of fuel in the final two minutes as Coach Jon Brown's gallant squadron saw its school record breaking season come to a close.

Kissing saved perhaps his best game of his prep career for his finale.

He netted a team-high 28-points while ripping down a “Godzilla-like” 18-rebounds.

Crab Orchard senior guard Drew Johnson scored 18-points to close his career while classmates Hunter Arnold and Coty Wece added 10 and six.

Not at all intimidated by the large crowd or Meridian's reputation, Crab Orchard came out of the gate firing away at the Bobcats.

Johnson hit a 3-pointer from the top of the circle to open the game and Kissing followed up that score with three made free throws after being fouled by Jerry Johnson while attempting a 20-footer.

His made free throws and another charity from Johnson on the next possession gave Crab a 7-0 advantage.

However the Bobcats didn't panic, scoring the game's next eight points with Schoffner, Johnson and Ballard all scoring points.

Johnson's steal and fast break resulted in a one-handed slam dunk and a Crab Orchard timeout at 8-7 Meridian.

The Trojans committed three turnovers to help fuel the Bobcats fast break.

Three straight transition scores by Meridian made it 20-12 with 1:28 left in the opening salvo.

“It is rare that we play anybody that is as quick as we are so that is one of our strengths,” Mandrell added when talking about forcing turnovers. “You can't simulate that in practice.”

Crab Orchard's Johnson hit another 3-pointer and added a rebound basket to close the first frame at 23-17 Meridian.

It took some time but the Bobcats gradually got some separation from the upset-minded Trojans and when DeMarko Ransom nailed a 3-pointer from the left wing, Meridian led 36-26.

“We were concerned with their inside game,” said Crab Orchard head coach Jon Brown. “Part of that was we were guarding better inside but then we had a hard time guarding them on the outside and they hit some 3's. We run a couple of different versions of it (1-3-1) and we sort of packed it in version to try and counter their athleticism. We wanted to be in better rebound position but the flip-side of that is that you can't get out and cover the 3-ball as well.”

Meridian's Jones scored two-straight baskets on fast break chances. His rebound of a Johnson missed transition lay up gave the 'Cats an 11-point margin.

Crab Orchard rallied to cut the scoreboard dilemma to just 40-32 at intermission.

Following a Trojan rally cut the difference to just 43-39, Meridian made a game-changing 13-0 run.

Ballard started the blitz with a 3-pointer from the left wing which was followed by three fast break scores off of three of Crab Orchard's five third quarter turnovers.

Jones scored two of the transition baskets and Schoffner also added a steal and lay in.

By the time Ballard hit two free throws with 3:14 left, Meridian had its biggest lead at 56-39.

However Meridian made some bad decisions to close the third quarter and began the final countdown with more mistakes which allowed Crab to make a run.

Ballard helped pave the way to SIU Arena when he converted two free throws to stop the bleeding.

Meridian hit exactly half of its shots (30-of-60) from the field and won the battle of the board despite Kissing's glass cleaning (38-33) while hitting 8-of-13 free throws.

Crab Orchard was 22-of-58 overall and committed 12 costly turnovers against the Meridian quickness.

The Trojans hit 16-of-22 free throws with Kissing going 12-of-13 himself.

“They (teams) are all tough now because everybody is good. I've seen Woodlawn (the Red Hill Sectional winner) and we had a scout at the game tonight so that will be a tough one,” added Coach Mandrell. “It's just not easy. You seldom blow anyone out at this level. We're just glad to get the win.”

The Trojans missed a couple of 3-pointers in the final minute and committed a turnover that sealed the win for Meridian and their spot in the “Elite Eight.”

“I'm just really proud of these guys, they showed so much heart,” said Coach Brown. “All four year that they have played (Kissing, Johnson, Wece) they showed dedication, they showed hustle and a never-say-die attitude. They are from good families and tonight when they could have hung their heads and gave up they kept battling.”