03-14-09
BY JACK BULLOCK
PEORIA - The Macon Meridian Hawks ended the Woodlawn dream of a state title with a physically commanding 63-53 victory.

Between 6-foot-4 senior forward Datoka Getz muscling around the basket for points in the first half and 6-foot junior guard Trent Swigert scoring 15 of his 17-points in the second half – the Hawks made all the right moves in handling Woodlawn to improve to 31-2 on the season while giving Coach Jack Blickensderfer and this program their first state title.

“I really thought that we played good defense the whole ballgame,” said coach Blickensderfer. “I thought that was the key and I was glad really that it was a close ballgame because we seem to coast sometimes and you can't let up against Woodlawn because they play so hard and they run good sets on offense.”

For head coach Shane Witzel and his Cardinals the formula of wearing down opponents with a deep bench with second half scoring runs and defensive stops didn't materialize in the title contest as Macon Meridian used a strong defensive presence in disrupting the Woodlawn offense.

“We really got flustered with them (Meridian) overplaying on defense and we turned the ball over way too many times,” said Woodlawn head coach Shane Witzel. “Our kids played their hearts out today. We told the kids that you don't have to play perfect games. We just expect a perfect effort. Even with Dawson out we competed hard and still had a chance there at the end. We got it down to four late but we were just one or two baskets away from really putting the pressure on them.”

Woodlawn – who usually finishes game with under double-digit turnovers – coughed up the ball 16 times and shot just 45.5 percent overall and only 2-of-13 from behind the 3-point line.

Sophomore guard Dawson Verhines led the Cardinals with 16-points but fouled out with 6:21 to go in the fourth quarter.

Without its offensive general on the floor – Woodlawn's final rally fell short as Macon Meridian closed out the contest with a 6-0 run with four consecutive free throws in the last 1:07.

“Our program has been good but maybe this takes the next step,” added Blickensderfer when talking about the school's first boy's state basketball title. “I want the kids to cherish this. We have won 20-games the last six years so we are used to winning. Sometimes you have to knock that door down like Bum Phillips used to say. You know that the Okaw Valley has been here four years in a row now. I'm really proud of what we as a conference have accomplished here.”

Woodlawn cut the Hawks lead down to 57-53 on a Jase Green three-point play with 1:35 left as he drove to the basket and was fouled by Cory Burns.

However Kyle Fore and Swigert closed the scoring with those four free throws sandwiched around a Swigert fast break score on a pass from Getz.

After a solid first half – Woodlawn hit just 30.4 percent from the field (7-of-23) in the last 16 minutes of their season.

Sophomore center Josh Wiggs came off the bench to score 11-points and Bronson Verhines closed out his prep career by scoring eight points and leading all players with 13 rebounds for Woodlawn.

Macon Meridian guards Swigert and Burns combined for 11 assists to go with their 25-points as the Hawks backcourt tandem outplayed their Woodlawn counterparts.

“You don't get here and become champions without being good and their guards were very good,” added Witzel. “They have very good guard play and they have an inside presence with a strong post player. I felt like we did a decent job defensively but it wasn't good enough tonight.”

Woodlawn began the game well jumping out to a 7-2 early lead with Brothers' Verhines and Green hitting shots.

Dawson drove the lane and was fouled by Swigert as his shot found the mark. His made free throw with 5:50 to go marked the Cardinals largest lead of the contest.

But when Getz got rolling offensively the Hawks got back into the game quickly.

Getz scored five straight points for his club and a steal and fast break lay in by Jacob Shasteen evened the score at 13 with 1:30 remaining.

Meridian closed the first half with an 8-0 run to take the lead for good.

Getz scored six of the points on shots around the basket. His spinning shot in the lane with :28 left pushed the Hawks lead to 30-26.

Dawson Verhines closed the half with a score before the buzzer as the Cards trailed at halftime for the third time in the postseason.

“We guarded them man-to-man and that is what we do and we wanted to start the game that way because that is what we do,” said Witzel. “That is what we did all year to get us here. He (Getz) had a great first half and he hit some shots over Bronson that were very well contested. He was the difference for them in the first half that allowed them to get the lead.”

Verhines added five more points to his total in the last part of the third quarter but in a :57 stretch he picked up his third and fourth fouls and had to spend some time on the bench.

But trailing 44-36 heading into the fourth quarter – Verhines needed to be on the floor.

His championship game would end at the 6:21 mark when he was called for his fifth personal.

Meridian closed the game and title quest of Woodlawn by hitting 14-of-18 free throws in the final 5:42.

“Our five kids busted their butts all day and that was the difference,” added Coach Blickensderfer. “It was a physical game and that is how we play in the Okaw Valley (Conference). I thought the kids handled the pressure of being ranked high all year. We got what we reached for and that is pretty special.”

Meridian hit on 20-of-41 from the field but the difference was outscoring the Cardinals by eleven from the foul line.

Shasteen followed up Getz and Swigert by closing 12-points.

Woodlawn closed the season having a 13-game winning streak snapped while claiming the championship of three tournaments during the regular season and setting a school record for most wins.

“This is a very special group and they (the kids) are good people. They are going to be very successful in their lives,” finalized Coach Witzel. “We told them that they will always remember the bond that you have with your teammates and this common experience. We gave them our best tonight but it wasn't good enough.”

Macon Meridian won the second state title for the Okaw Valley Conference in three years joining Maroa-Forsyth as state champions.

“This is a once in a lifetime kind of experience and we have a state title to bring back to Meridian and I am awfully proud,” finalized Coach Blickensderfer.

Macon Meridian (63) – Getz 9 0 4-6 22, Shasteen 4 0 4-5 12, Fore 1 0 2-3 4, Burns 3 0 2-3 8, Swigert 2 1 10-14 17, Washburn 0 0 0-0 0, Dodson 0 0 0-0 0, Thompson 0 0 0-0 0, Kitchens 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-19, 3FG-1, FT-22-31, PF-16.
Woodlawn (53) – Green 3 0 3-3 9, B. Verhines 3 0 2-3 8, Boldt 0 0 2-2 2, D. Verhines 7 0 2-3 16, Hammond 0 2 1-2 7, Dunbar 0 0 0-0 0, Cavender 0 0 0-0 0, Aparicio 0 0 0-0 0, Hart 0 0 0-0 0, McNeil 0 0 0-0 0, Simmons 0 0 0-0 0, Wehrheim 0 0 0-0 0, Wiggs 5 0 1-3 11.
2FG-18, 3FG-2, FT-11-16, PF-22.
Fouled Out – Burns - Macon Meridian; D. Verhines - Woodlawn.
Technical Fouls – None.