11-25-05
BY JACK BULLOCK
GRAYVILLE - This season the IHSA has stopped using the 'mercy rule' for games where the scoring margin reaches 30-points or more during the fourth quarter of a contest.

The exception to this rule is during tournaments.

Thank goodness the rule was in effect Friday night at Grayville.

Carmi-White County, Galatia and NCOE all three ended up with over 30-point leads in the fourth quarter of its victories.

Led by Keegan Dennis and his 24-points, CWC advanced to the title game with a relatively easy 61-33 win over Edwards County in the Friday nightcap.

Galatia, behind Eli House's 22-points, toppled Clay City 65-31.

In the first game NCOE pulled away from New Harmony (IN.) 53-22.

The final day's games are now set.

Carmi-White County will try to defend its title against surprising Grayville in the championship game.

Galatia will play Cisne for third place; Clay City and NCOE will play for fifth place while New Harmony (IN.) and Edwards County will decided seventh place.

GALATIA 65, CLAY CITY 31
Although not the high powered squad of a year ago, the Bearcats forced enough turnovers that produced enough easy baskets to drop the Wolves into the fifth place contest.

In a mistake filled game that saw both teams combine for 44-turnovers, Galatia hit the big shots and made the big plays to keep the Wolves at bay.

Following a 3-pointer by Clay City's Ricky Nelson cut the Bearcats lead to 9-8 with 3:27 to in the opening frame; Galatia closed the quarter on an 8-2 run.

An Eli House 3-pointer, his second of the game, and a fast break lay up in transition from sophomore Ethan Robinson highlighted the run to end the stanza at 17-10.

The Bearcats pulled away late in a 'helter-skelter' second quarter that saw 16 total turnovers by the two clubs.

A 9-1 run to finish the quarter, which included a pair of House free throws on two Clay City technical fouls finished the scoring at 34-18 at intermission.

"Pressure defense and good rebounding won this game for us," said Galatia head coach Rod Wallace. "We did a lot of things right tonight. We did a lot of things wrong, too, but we did more things right tonight than we did wrong."

The key to the game was on the defensive end as Galatia, while not handling the ball particularly well, forced 17-turnover in the first two quarters, seven of which turned into immediate points.

"That is our program, pressure defense and being in good condition," added Wallace. "We feel like we are on a good track with our system."

The Bearcats closed each of the first three quarters with scoring runs.

After Clay City's Brandon Allison hit a 3-pointer to whittle the Galatia lead to 42-27, the Cats scored the next 14-points to put the outcome to rest.

Robinson had five points in the scoring spree, on a conventional 3-point play and later in the run on a short jumper in the lane.

Another sophomore, 5-foot-9 guard Robby Engle hit a 3-pointer from the right corner made it 56-27 Galatia just before the third quarter horn.

Two free throws by House just seven seconds into the fourth period put the mercy rule into effect at 58-27.

The Bearcats ended the game with 7-1 run with House scoring two more baskets.

Galatia improved to 2-1 on the season and in the tournament while Clay City dropped to 1-2 in both.

House topped all scorers with 22.

Robinson added 15 while Engle pitched in 12.

Nelson led the Wolves with eight as no Clay City player reached double-figures.

Clay City (70) - Frohning 0 0 6-8 6, C. Allison 0 0 1-2 1, Frank 0 0 2-2 2, Nelson 1 2 0-0 8, B. Allison 2 1 0-0 7, Prosser 0 0 0-0 0, Martin 1 0 0-0 2, Mitchell 1 0 0-0 2, Workman 0 0 2-2 2, Bloehs 0 0 0-0 0, Duvall 0 0 1-2 1, Bangert 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-5, 3FG-3, FT-12-16, PF-19.
Galatia (47) - Allen 1 0 0-0 2, Hodson 2 0 4-6 8, House 5 2 6-6 22, Robinson 7 0 2-2 16, Engle 3 2 0-0 12, Gurley 1 0 0-0 2, Beaty 0 0 0-0 0, Higgins 0 0 1-4 1, Edwards 0 0 0-1 0, Field 1 0 0-0 0
2FG-20, 3FG-4, FT-13-19, PF-19.
Fouled Out - None.
Technical Fouls - Frohning, Clay City; Bench, Clay City

CARMI-WHITE CO. 61, EDWARDS COUNTY 33
It took the Bulldogs a bit longer than expected to put away the Lions in the last game Friday night.

However the 3-0 'Dawgs finally 'laid down the law' in the middle two quarters to pull away for the win.

Two early 3-pointers from Tyler Choate and a steal and fast break dunk by Keegan Dennis put the Bulldogs ahead 10-2 with 5:56 left in the first quarter.

But Edwards County (0-3) didn't roll over, making a nice run at the end of the frame.

Sam Heidinger hit a 3-pointer from the left wing while Jacob Smith scored a basket and two free throws to cut the lead to 17-15.

One free throw from Carmi's Mark Healy ended the first quarter scoring at 18-15 CWC.

But an 11-1 run to open the second quarter got the Bulldogs rolling.

A 3-pointer from sophomore Travis Jones, two baskets from Jim Kress in the paint and another Dennis score on a back door lay in made it 29-16.

Carmi scored the final seven points of the half with Dennis knocking down his second 'trifecta' of the night to go with a pair of free throws.

Jones hit another 3-pointer and Healy scored the final points in the quarter with a spin move in the lane for a 44-20 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs removed all doubt of the outcome, outscoring Edwards County 13-4 in the third frame to set up 'continuous clock' in the fourth quarter.

Dennis led CWC with 24-points while Choate added 10.

Jones, Kress and Chase Kittinger added six-points apiece.

Logan Holmes led Edwards County with nine and Hedinger added seven.

Edward County (33) - Harris 1 0 0-0 0, Henton 0 0 0-0 0, Mewes 0 0 1-2 1, Hedinger 1 1 2-2 7, Giese 0 0 0-0 0, Smith 3 0 2-4 8, Kinsey 0 0 0-0 0, Bosecker 1 0 0-0 2, Holmes 3 0 3-6 9, Reid 1 0 0-0 2, Lingfelter 0 0 0-0 0, Longbons 1 0 0-0 2.
2FG-10, 3FG-1, FT-8-14, PF-14.
Carmi-White County (61) - Talley 0 0 0-0 0, Chase Kittinger 3 0 0-0 6, Choate 1 2 2-2 10, Dennis 5 2 8-9 24, Healy 3 0 1-5 7, Jones 0 2 0-0 6, Kress 3 0 0-0 6, Williams 0 0 0-0 0, Bayley 0 0 0-0 0, Clay Kittinger 0 0 0-0 0, Steed 0 0 0-0 0, McVey 0 0 0-0 0, Rice 0 0 0-2 0, Simons 1 0 0-0 2.
2FG-16, 3FG-6, FT-11-18, PF-14.
Fouled Out - None.
Technical Fouls - None.

NCOE 53, NEW HARMONY (IN.) 22
Michael Laughard's 19-points led the Fighting Cardinals into the fifth place game with a commanding win over the Rappites.
Dylan Bowman added 12-points and teammate Jesse Flannigan tossed in 10.
Leading 32-16 after three quarters, NCOE pulled away with a 21-6 final quarter run.
Justin Terrell led New Harmony (IN.) (0-3) with nine

Norris City-Omaha-Enfield (53) - Anderson 0 0 0-0 0, Bowman 6 0 0-2 12, Capps 1 0 0-1 2, Laughard 7 0 5-6 19, Phillips 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor 3 0 0-0 6, Flannigan 1 2 2-2 10, Stover 2 0 0-0 4, Pearce 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-20, 3FG-2, FT-7-11, PF-12.
New Harmony (IN.) (22) - Hull 0 0 0-0 0, Wilkerson 0 2 0-0 6, Field 1 0 0-0 2, Craig 0 0 0-0 0, Terrell 1 2 1-2 9, Gish 0 0 0-0 0, Rutherford 0 0 0-0 0, E. Wasson 1 0 0-0 2, Hidbrader 0 0 0-0 0, C. Wasson 1 0 1-2 3.
2FG-4, 3FG-4, FT-2-2, PF-22.
Fouled Out - None.
Technical Fouls - None.

Saturday's schedule
Game 13 - 1:00 pm - New Harmony (IN.) vs. Edwards Co. - 7th
Game 14 - 2:30 pm - NCOE vs. Clay City - 5th
Game 15 - 6:00 pm - Cisne vs. Galatia - 3rd
Game 16 - 7:30 pm - Grayville vs. Carmi-White County - 1st