12-21-02
BY JACK BULLOCK
WAYNE CITY - You can use many words to describe the Sesser-Valier defense on Saturday night.

Swarming, suffocating, stingy, etc.., Pick any of these words that you wish.

The bottom line is that this game was dominated by the Red Devils zone defense, which held Wayne City to 12 points in the first three quarters of the game, in route to a 43-32 win over the host Indians Saturday night.

The victory for S-V (7-3 overall and 4-0 in Pool A) sends them into to the tournament title game Monday night against Pool B winner Cisne.

The Indians tried to hang with S-V early.

A basket and a pair of free throws by Loker tied things early at 4-apiece with 4:12 left.

But then the Red Devils took the lead for good, going on a 12-1 run to end the quarter.

Carpenter scored the first ten of those points. His short jumper in the lane on a pass from Jake Morhet pushed the lead to 12-5 and forced Wayne City coach Tony Richardson to call a timeout with 2:08 left.

Matt Carpenter would score again from the left baseline, and then Jared Shelton hit a runner in the lane to make it 16-5 at the end of the first quarter.

The Devils scored the first four points of the second quarter, with Morhet scoring in the lane while being fouled by Loker.

He missed the free throw but on the next trip down the court, Shelton made a nice steal and scored easily on a lay up to make it 20-5.

Wayne City lit the scoreboard on its next two possessions, with Loker hitting a short jumper and Justin Slover banked home a 10-foot shot.

But Sesser-Valier responded with a six-point scoring run, Bryan Galloway scored on a drive in the lane.

Then Tony Martin got a nice 'give and go' pass from Morhet to score in the lane.

The last two of the run came from a pair of charities by Carpenter, which made the score 26-9 with 2:20 left before halftime.

After another Slover score, a 15-footer from the left corner with 1:56 left, the Red Devils scored the next two baskets.

Carpenter hit a jumper from the left side of the court after getting a nice pass from Galloway.

Then right before halftime, Martin rebounded a miss by Galloway and his put back made it 30-11 at the intermission.

The Red Devils managed to score just six points in the third quarter. Sesser-Valier got baskets Martin, Morhet and Carpenter in the quarter. Carpenter's short bank shot made the lead 36-11.

However they held the Indians scoreless until Loker hit on the first of a pair of free throws with just :01.6 left in the third quarter. Wayne City went 9:56 without scoring.

The Indians made a run in the final period but never really threaten to win the game.

With the score 39-14, Wayne City got a seven point trip down the court.

Carpenter fouled Loker as the Wayne City guard was making a shot in the lane.

Carpenter then complained to referee Ted Knapp about the call.

Knapp assessed a technical foul on Carpenter and Loker calmly made all three freebies and then Eric Collins hit a jumper for Wayne City. Loker quickly made a steal and his fast break bucket completed the best run of the night for the Indians at 9-0.

After running some clock on its next possession, Alex Kramer hit a pair of free throws to make it 41-26.

Both teams emptied their benches and the WC reserves made a run that made the score closer than what the game really was.
Carpenter led the Red Devils with 19 points while Martin and Bryan Galloway added six each.

Loker who scored 15 led Wayne City and Justin Slover added six.

The Tribe will play Edwards County Monday night in the third place contest.

CISNE 57, THOMPSONVILLE 52
The Lions got 16 points from Drew Glover and 14 Lance Endsley as they got by Thompsonville.

Despite a slight ankle sprain and some foul trouble, Glover got the job done late in the game as Cisne (9-1 overall, 4-0 in pool play) advanced to the Monday title game against Sesser-Valier.

The Lions could win their second tournament title of the year with a win over Sesser. They captured the Grayville Thanksgiving Tourney title earlier this season.

While clinging to a 37-34 lead in the third quarter, Glover picked up his fourth personal foul with 2:18 left.

But while he was on the bench, his teammates managed to increase the lead to 43-36 early in the fourth quarter.

But a 3-pointer by Thompsonville's Miles Vaughn and three made free throws by Cody Murphy got the Tigers the lead late in the game 49-47.

But Glover made a great move on the baseline and scored while being fouled by Vaughn. His made free throw with 1:56 left gave the lead back to Cisne 50-49.

But Thompsonville came up empty on four straight trips to the offensive end and Cisne took advantage of the cold shooting Tigers by making 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch to pick up the win.

"We shot our free throws well coming into this week but we struggled some tonight," said Cisne mentor Dennis Arnold talking about his club's 15-of-32 performance from the line against Thompsonville. "But we made just enough at the end."

EDWARDS COUNTY 68, WEBBER TOWNSHIP 67
The Lions got nine fourth quarter points from reserve John Campbell on three 3-pointers as Edwards County edged Webber Township.

His third trifecta (a bank shot from the left side) with :04.9 remaining capped a great fourth quarter comeback as the Lions finished 2-2 in Pool B and will take on Wayne City Monday.

EC had three players in double figures, led by Joe Murphy with 18. Eric St. Ledger and Jordan Wheat added 14 each.

"We got a bit lucky tonight," said EC coach Jason Stark. "Those kids that hit the big shots for us tonight have done it in practice before, but this is the first time that they have done it in a game situation."

Joey Ullery poured in a game-high 25 for the Trojans while Brad Porter and Brad Bane pitched in 16 and 14 respectively.

Webber drops to 5-5 on the season and 2-2 in the tourney. They will play Grayville Monday night in the fifth place game.

GRAVVILLE 59, CLAY CITY 48
The Bison picked up their second win of the season Saturday afternoon with a win over Clay City.

Eric Murrell led the Bison with a game high 25 points. Jason Beasley and Tyler Howell added 12 and 10.

Grayville (2-2 in Pool A) will play Webber Township Monday night.

Grayville coach Dale Schmittler faces one of his former assistants for the first time on the hardwood.

Webber coach Clarence Gross was an assistant for Grayville before moving to Webber Township three years ago.