02-25-16
BY JACK BULLOCK
CRAB ORCHARD - The Steeleville Warriors saved their best offensive move of the night for the last two minutes of the game on Thursday night.

And as it turned out, it was enough to get them into the regional title game on Friday night.

Behind 23-points from freshman guard Owen Gross and 14-points from senior forward Nic Hagel, both youth and experience were served in the regional semifinals.

The pair combined for18-points in the fourth quarter and junior RJ Smith two key baskets in the final scoring drive as the Warriors broke the game's final tie with a game-closing 8-2 run for a 65-59 victory over Crab Orchard in the semifinals of the Crab Orchard Class 1A Regional.

Coach Bryce Bainter's club got a scare on the home court of the Trojans as they didn't shoot the ball well.

However all is well as they survived and advanced to the title game against top-seed Woodlawn on Friday night.

“We rely a lot on our shooting and there are going to be nights when the shots won't fall. We have been able to find ways to be successful,” said Coach Bainter. “Owen (Gross) showed a lot of heart tonight. It is a big game to be called on as a freshman. He hit some big shots when we needed them.”

The Trojans had multiple chances to win the contest, but they failed to convert their chances from the foul line.

Coach Jon Brown's team hit just 11-of-23 from the stripe, included in that total was six missed charities in the final frame when they had a chance to break away from the Warriors.

Even with 13-points each from senior Lane Hutson and sophomore Levi Vinson, Crab Orchard saw its season close at 23-8.

Two other players notched double-figures in points for the Trojans with sophomore Caleb Vaughn and junior Amos Beasley each adding 10-points.

In a game that produced eight ties and 12-lead changes, Steeleville never lost its composure in the fourth quarter when Crab Orchard took a five-point lead.

Two baskets by Beasley and one by Vinson gave the Trojans a 52-47 spread.

Gross scored 10 of his points in the fourth quarter and his 3-pointer on a long rebound was part of his own personal six-point sprint.

When he hit a pair of free throws at the 2:35 mark, the Warriors were up 57-54.

A free throw by Hutson and a rebound basket by McKager Ferrell evened the score for the final time at 57-all.

Smith hit both of his shots in the lane with one coming on an excellent pass from Hagel.

Steeleville finished the game by going 13-of-16 from the foul line, including a stretch in which they made their last nine in a row in the fourth quarter.

Both teams opened up cold from the floor in a first quarter that had 18-missed shots from the two teams, which ended at 13-12 Crab Orchard.

Coach Brown's club scored five straight points with Hutson opening the second quarter with his second 3-pointer of the game followed by a Beasley offensive rebound for a bucket and an 18-12 lead.

Then it was the Warriors with their best run, 10-0 in variety, with senior Trey Lazenby hitting a 3-point bomb and a fast break score on an assist from Gross.

When Dusty Sutton, a junior guard, nailed his second of two 3-pointers, Steeleville completed the scoring surge with a 22-18 advantage.

Two more buckets by Beasley and two free throws from Vinson finished the quarter for the Trojans as they outscored Steeleville 10-5 for a 28-27 lead at the half.

Crab Orchard opened up the third quarter with a run that could have helped get them some distance from the Warriors.

But the free throw shooting issue never resolved itself as Hutson, normally a good shooter from the line, hit just 1-of-5 in the quarter and just 2-of-9 for the game.

A basket by Gross coming off of a screen up top gave Steeleville a 40-39 lead at the end of the third.

The Warriors were out-rebounded by Crab Orchard 34-30 as they gave up 16-offensive rebounds, including seven in the fourth quart.

“They (Crab Orchard) really go to the boards, especially on the offensive end,” said Coach Bainter.

Overall neither team threw it in the goal very well on the night.

Steeleville ended up 22-of-54 overall, and 8-of-24 from the 3-point line.

Meanwhile the hosts were 21-of-57 from the floor, 6-of-19 from the arc.

Coach Bainter, in his fourth season at the helm, is in search of his second regional title and the first since 2013 on Friday night as they will play state-ranked and ABV number four Woodlawn, who topped Norris City-Omaha-Enfield 61-33 on Tuesday night.

“I told the kids after the game that this is why kids in small towns play basketball is games like tomorrow night. It is great to play against a program like Woodlawn. The tradition and the mystique. I told them we aren't favored tomorrow so we need to come out an play care-free and relaxed,” said Coach Bainter. “I am just proud of the guys the way that they fought through. We didn't shoot the ball well but the kids found other ways to win. We played defense, got rebounds and knocked down free throws when we needed them.”