03-02-05
BY JACK BULLOCK
NORRIS CITY - In most years, a three-game victory run in the post-season by a small school would be considered a 'Cinderella Story.'

But the further the Webber Township Trojans jaunt into the unknown, the more they look like the champions they have become.

The translation: the number two seed in their sub-sectional have reached the place where they were picked to end up.

With a school record 27-3 mark in tow, they have beaten Mount Carmel, Fairfield and now Eldorado in a dominating way in the 2005 version of March Madness.

Counting a win over Carmi-White County at the CWCIT back in January, the Trojans are 3-0 versus the Eastern Division of the Black Diamond Conference.

Putting together the best four quarters of its state tournament so far, coach Clarence Gross' club now stands a victory away from the schools' first ever Supersectional berth after a 77-60 'pasting' of Eldorado Tuesday night at the NCOE Class A Sectional.

Considered underdogs despite a lofty post-season rank, Webber took care of its third-straight larger school opponent by doing the same things that has served them so well all season.

Balanced scoring, total team defense and an ability to 'out work' the other team has the Mid-South Conference champs knocking on the door of a trip to the 'Sweet 16.'

On this night Eldorado found itself in a fight that they were ill prepared for.

Add to the equation the Trojans' astounding ability from the free throw line (19-of-26 for the game, 45-of-55 in their three victories) and it was a wonder the Eagles hung around as long as they did.

When the fourth quarter arrived, as has been the case with nearly every opponent this season, Webber Township was the fresher team.

The Trojans are now staring at a Friday night showdown with third ranked West Frankfort 'beaming' with confidence.

"When we play as hard as we can, we are tough to stop," said 6-foot-4 senior Joey Ullery, whose 25-points paced a balanced attack for the Trojans. "We got five guys who are offensive weapons and we are all confident in what we can do."

Breaking open what was a close game with two huge second half offensive spurts, the Trojans turned what was a close game into a rout in the final 16 minutes.

"This is a big win for us and a huge boost for our kids and our community," said Coach Gross, who was awarded Monday with the ABV "Deep South" 'Coach of the Year' honor. "Everyone thinks it is a broken record but it has been a total team effort for us every night this season."

In the opening minutes, Webber's Bryce McKenzie continued his 'first out of the gate' attitude on the offensive end that he has possessed in the post-season.

While some of his teammates took time to get rolling, McKenzie answered the early bell in all three of the Trojan tournament triumphs.

Nine first quarter points from the junior guard; four early points from Ullery and five late points from Jabe Michel turned a 5-0 Eldorado lead into a 20-12 Webber advantage at the first horn.

McKenzie's 3-pointer from the top of the arc with 3:25 left broke a 10-10 deadlock and started a quarter ending 10-2 push. Michel began his strong night in the post as his bank shot while being fouled by William Carmickle turned into a quarter ending three-point play.

But the Eagles, winners of the Harrisburg Class A Regional, had no intentions of flying away.

More points from Craig Parks, who netted 21 of his 26 points in the first half, helped trigger a 12-2 run of their own.

Four total 3-pointers (two apiece from Parks and Daniel Etienne) during the sprint evened the game at 31-all.

Eldorado, who trailed nearly the entire first half, took a one-point lead at the second quarter buzzer on a Kyle Sims lay in.

The second half started with Carmickle, the Eagles' 6-foot-2 junior forward, scoring on a short lay in.

I mention that basket because it was truly the end of the Eldorado highlights for the game and eventually the 2004-05 season.

Nearly everything else in the final two quarters centered on Webber Township and their ability to make shots and defend.

"I thought our kids did an excellent job of getting back into the game at halftime," said Eldorado coach Greg Goodley, who saw his teams' season come to a close at 20-13. "But teams that can make their own breaks in the second half can hang around and play another day and tonight it wasn't us. They (Webber) played well and they deserved to move on tonight. They have a group of kids that have been in big games and they make good decisions. They are just a fine club."

After the Carmickle bucket, the Trojans went on yet another 12-2 scoring scamper over the next 6:33 to take command.

Ullery scored a pair of baskets in the frame; one on a rebound of his own missed shot and another on a midrange jumper.

While Eldorado was realizing that the Trojans had five offensive weapons to choose from in the starting lineup, number six took to the limelight as he created another problem for the Eagles to deal with.

Corey Braden, Webber's often-used senior defensive sixth man, netted an important nine points in the game.

His two biggest baskets came on two shots late in the third quarter.

His runner in the lane; followed by an offensive rebound put back with :23 remaining, gave his team a 48-41 lead.

Parks once again canned a 3-pointer, his final long-range bomb of the contest, to close the quarter at 48-44 Webber.

What little hope the Eagles had of making a comeback faded away quickly in the fourth quarter.

An 8-2 burst, capped by a Cody Swartz 15-footer from the left side gave Webber its first double-digit cushion at 56-46 at the 6:41 mark.

By this time of the contest, Eldorado's spirit began to fade and exhaustion and frustration had quickly set in.

Knowing that the Eagles would be forced to foul late in the game while implementing a trapping defense Webber ran the clock and Eldorado ragged, which resulted in easy baskets and foul shot opportunities.

Michel, who has spent the past few days with his mind on his older brother who is leaving for a tour of duty in Iraq in a few days, kept his mind on the game by scoring Webber's next six points to make it 62-50.

In the final 3:28 of the contest, the Trojans finished off Eldorado with 6-of-8 free throws.

During that 'charity stripe' run, Ullery connected on four consecutive shots after being fouled by Carmickle.

The Eldorado player was issued a technical foul following the personal, which sent Coach Gross' top free throw marksman to the line and the Eagles' player 'to the pine' with his fifth foul.

Ullery made all four of his attempts to push the lead to 68-52 with 2:21 to go.

"I just wanted the ball late in the game because I knew I was going to make my free throws," added Ullery. "We are a second half team and we know each night in the post-season that this could be our last 16-minutes so we give it all we have."

The Eagles had chances in the final quarter, but they were just 4-of-16 from the field which included a 0-of-10 effort from behind the arc.

Another 3-point play by Michel and a drive to the basket by Ullery, which resulted in a one-handed dunk, made it 75-52 before both teams emptied their benches.

"They were able to use their size tonight against us and we ended up sending them to the free throw line with 11 straight fouls in the second half," added Goodley. "But that is part of basketball, you have to make adjustments and we didn't tonight."

Ullery closed the game by making all 11 of his free throws to top the Trojans with 25-points.

Michel's 19 and McKenzie's 16, added to the Ullery total, matched the entire Eldorado team score.

Braden's nine important points along with six from Brad Porter and a deuce from Swartz completed victory number 27.

Parks paced the Eagles with his 26 while Etienne tallied 11. They were the only two Eagles in double-digits on the night.

Webber Township was 28-of-54 from the field overall (51 percent) while Eldorado managed just a 22-of-56 (39 percent) performance.

The rebounding totals for the game were close, with Webber leading 29-25.

But eight of the Trojans' 18 defensive boards came in the final eight minutes.

While the Eagles, who have won three consecutive regional titles the past three seasons, begin thinking about spring baseball; Webber Township will try not to wake up from this Blue and Gold dream season.

West Frankfort, a 61-42 winner over Vienna in the other sectional semifinal Tuesday night, awaits Coach Gross' team Friday night.

On the line will be a trip to the Carbondale Class A Supersectional next Tuesday at SIU-Arena.

"We have nothing to lose at this point of the season," Gross said. "They will be the favorites but we have everything to gain Friday night."

Webber Township (77) -Porter 1 1 1-2 6, McKenzie 6 1 1-2 16, Ullery 7 0 11-11 25, Michel 7 0 5-9 19, Swartz 1 0 0-0 2, Braden 4 0 1-2 9, Lowery 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-26, 3FG-2, FT-19-26, PF-14.
Eldorado (60) - Harner 3 0 0-0 6, Etienne 4 1 0-0 11, Bradley 1 0 0-1 2, Carmickle 2 0 1-2 5, Parks 3 6 2-2 26, Sims 2 0 0-0 4, Creamer 0 0 4-4 4, Roberts 0 0 2-2 2.
2FG-15, 3FG-7, FT-9-11, PF-22.
Fouled Out - Carmickle, Parks, Sims-Eldorado.
Technical Fouls - Carmickle.