02-21-11
BY JACK BULLOCK
WOODLAWN – Rivalry games. They are one of the biggest draws in sports.

Celtics/Lakers, Raiders/Chiefs, North Carolina/Duke.

Odin and Sandoval – a mere five miles apart – have been competing in sports for a long time.

Both of these teams – for the first time in many, many years – produced winning records this season.

But while Odin (during the Tyler Parrish era that was just completed) was used to winning games – the ability to close out victories is a new concept in Sandoval.

In three prior meetings this season (all close wins by Odin) it was the Eagles that knew how to finish.

On Monday night in the first round of the Woodlawn Class 1A Regional – Odin was the one that was strong late and advanced.

Despite a 12-of-24 effort from the foul line – with four of those misses early in the fourth quarter allowing Sandoval back into the game – Odin advanced with a 51-49 win at Sides Gymnasium.

Tyson Minor led the Eagles to the triumph with 26-points which included a pair of fast break scores as part of a late 6-0 run that gave Odin back the lead for good with 1:11 left in the contest.

“I just told the kids that at this point of the season it is all about surviving to play another game and that is what the regional is all about,” said Odin head coach Mike Finckbone. “It is hard to play a team four times and all four times the games were like tonight, they were close. We got the rebounds at the end and hit just enough free throws to win. On the other hand - If we had made a few more free throws earlier maybe this game doesn't get to that. But 'Hey' its a win and we move on.”

Sandoval was topped by Warren Jones with 26-points as well.

Jones scored nine points in the fourth quarter and his drive down the lane for a finishing left handed lay up gave Sandoval a 46-42 lead.

However Odin rallied and - with Ian Soper hitting 3-of-4 free throws in the final :29.3 - Odin got the win.

Sandoval had two shots to tie the game in the final moments but Miner grabbed a miss by Dillon Marcketti as the horn sounded to end the game.

One of the telling stats of the contest was rebounding where Odin won the battle 36-25 and with 16 offensive rebounds – the Eagles got a lot of second chance points.

Minor and teammate Travis Shaffer cashed in second chances in the opening stanza as Odin close the frame with a 6-0 run to take a 12-9 advantage.

While in years past the Hawks may of just gave up after their rivals made a big run – Sandoval stayed within striking distance for the entire game.

Marcketti (twice) and Jones scored on fast breaks as Sandoval did very well in transition in this game.

Marcketti's scores came on back-to-back possessions with his steal and fast break lay up at the 2:16 mark tying the game at 19-all.

Odin got points from Minor on a drive to the basket and two free throws by Shaffer to take a 25-23 lead to the break.

After spotting Odin two quick scores to begin the third quarter – Sandoval responded with Jones nailing one of his four 3-pointers and then this 5-foot-11 guard dished to Marcketti for another score that forced an Odin timeout at 29-28 with 5:52 left in the third.

Every time the Eagles would get some separation the Black Hawks would make a comeback.

Jones and Jacob Wooters scored in sequence to get the Odin lead down to 37-35 late in the third quarter.

However Odin held the ball for the final shot and Minor drove the lane for a 12-footer that found the mark and beat the buzzer for a four-point lead heading to the final countdown.

In spite of five turnovers in the third quarter – Sandoval was in the contest heading into the final eight minutes.

Coach Mike Finckbone decided to have his Eagles be more deliberate against the Sandoval zone defense and that strategy nearly backfired.

Being more patient – Odin ended up being sent to the foul line and center James Hodge could only make 1-of-6 shots from the stripe.

This allowed Sandoval to make its biggest move of the night.

Jones and Marcketti each hit 3-pointers and when Marcketti found the range from the left wing with 4:40 left – Sandoval had a 41-40 lead.

Jones added another trey – making it a 9-0 run and Odin appeared to be fading away at 44-40.

But Odin made its comeback to advance with that 6-0 late move.

“We did pull the ball out and tried to get them out of their zone and it kind of got us out of our rhythm,” added Coach Finckbone. “We didn't do a very good job of getting the ball inside. Friday night when we played them were tore them up inside but we didn't do that tonight.”

The Eagles and Hawks each had trouble shooting the ball.

Odin connected on 19-of-50 shots overall while Sandoval was just 19-of-54 with five of those made shots being 3-pointers.

However Odin got to the foul line more proficiently outscoring Sandoval by six.

Both teams had double-digit turnover counts with Odin having 14 to Sandoval's 10.

Following Minor's 26-points was Shaffer with 12 and Hodge with six.

Marcketti was second to Jones on the Sandoval club with 11-points.

The Black Hawks closed out their season at 19-9 while the 18-7 Eagles move on to face top-seed and ABV second ranked Woodlawn on Wednesday night.

'Knowing how to finish games is important and the last two seasons we won 20-games and we have won 18-games this season so we have shown we can do that,” finalized Coach Finckbone. “They're (Woodlawn) no secret and we know what we are going to have to do Wednesday night and we are happy to have a shot at them again.”

Sandoval (49) – Marcketti 4 1 0-0 11, Jones 5 4 4-5 26, Hammer 1 0 0-0 2, Wooters 2 0 0-0 4, Justin 0 0 0-0 0, Boatright 2 0 2-2 6, Drenckpehl 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-14, 3FG-5, FT-6-7, PF-19.
Odin (51) – Shaffer 4 0 4-6 12, Miner 12 0 2-3 26, Soper 0 0 3-4 3, Hodge 2 0 2-9 6, Parrish 0 1 1-2 4.
2FG-18, 3FG-1, FT-12-24, PF-10.
Fouled Out - None.
Technical Fouls – None.