02-24-11
BY JACK BULLOCK
WOODLAWN – The Wayne City Indians blew a seven-point lead to Okawville last Friday night and lost a heartbreaking 61-58 decision at home in the regular season finale between the two schools.

On Thursday night the Tribe nearly coughed up another lead in the Woodlawn 1A Regional semifinal.

Wayne City led 33-23 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter but - in spite of missing three consecutive one-and-one chances and allowing Okawville some open looks at the basket in the final moments – the Indians survived to improve its overall mark to 25-2.

Coach Russ Gerlach's squad will now face Woodlawn in the regional finale after holding on for a 37-36 victory at Sides Gymnasium.

“We had some turnovers there in the fourth quarter and we had a hard time scoring. The turnovers we made were the right plays but we just didn't execute but after that we got ourselves settled back down,” said Coach Gerlach. “But we played good defense down the stretch.”

Okawville failed to capitalize on the opportunities as coach Jon Kraus' Rockets could have won the game in the final minute but three consecutive shots failed to connect – including an off balanced shot by Taylor Walton that came up short as time expired in the contest and the Rockets 19-12 season.

“Three times we had a chance to take the lead at the end of the game and we missed a lay up in there that I thought was big,” said Okawville coach Jon Kraus. “If we had got the lead that might have changed a few things but they (Wayne City) did a good job guarding us. We through three different sets at them at the end but they stopped the sets that we ran.”

The Indians will now get a third crack at Midland Trail Conference champion Cardinals on Friday night – mainly because 6-foot-2 senior forward Zach Meritt wouldn't allow Wayne City's season to end.

Meritt – who scorched Okawville with 34-points last Friday night – came up big again in the low scoring/turnover filled contest with 23-points to lead all scorers. He also topped his team with seven rebounds.

“You have to give him (Meritt) credit. He got loose a few times tonight and he hit them,” explained Coach Kraus. “We guarded him well and a lot of times it is hard to make those shots when you do get loose and he did. He didn't get frustrated. He kept running through screens and they got him some open looks.”

Meritt accounted for the only seven points that Wayne City scored in the fourth quarter and his fall away 12-footer in the paint was his final bucket of the night with 1:55 left that gave his team a 37-34 lead.

Walton got his Rockets back to within a point a few seconds later on a drive to the basket with 1:38 remaining.

Nevertheless – Okawville couldn't manage another point.

Jeremy Weeke led Okawville with 21-points while Walton added 12.

In a game in which defenses dominated – Meritt turned out to be the difference.

“Everybody knows where it is going to at the end,” said Coach Gerlach in referring to Meritt offensively. “When we needed a basket we were able to get him the ball.”

The two combatants combined to shoot just 38 percent from the floor (28-of-74) and together they committed 22-turnovers.

Okawville and Wayne City combined for eight lead changes in the first half as neither team could get more than a three-point advantage.

Weeke – a 6-foot-1 left handed sophomore guard – scored the Rockets' first nine points.

His drive in the lane for a basket with 2:52 left in the opening quarter gave Okawville a 9-6 early advantage.

Wayne City's Mark Feather and Arminius Caldwell scored two and four points respectively but each contributed in the early Wayne City offense.

Feather picked up a steal and fast break score and Caldwell – who was not closely guarded throughout the game by Okawville – hit an open shot to close the first quarter for the Indians who trailed 11-10 at the first buzzer.

Wayne City took a 20-18 lead to the locker room at halftime with Meritt contributing four points in the second quarter while Haden Smith picked up a rebound basket of a Feather missed fast break lay in with just under a minute left.

Okawville had chances in the second quarter as well but committed four turnovers and were just 2-of-8 from the floor.

“They (Okawville) are good shooters, too, but we talked about having to stop their drives to the basket and help off of the right guys,” added Coach Gerlach. “I thought we did a good job of that tonight. We did a great job rebounding and we've got some undersized kids but we boxed out well and we did all the little things right.”

Meritt – in spite of some foul trouble in the second half – emerged with some big baskets and a key assist in an 11-0 run that put Wayne City in front to stay.

He found Caldwell open with a pass that resulted in a lay up that triggered the eventual game-changing scoring burst with just over three minutes left in the third quarter.

Then Meritt connected on three consecutive 3-point shots – two to end the quarter and one to begin the final stanza.

His second one found the mark from the left wing with :05 left to give the Indians a 30-23 lead.

He began the fourth quarter with a trifecta from the left corner with 7:41 to go.

Okawville's best run came after the Meritt trey – a 9-0 sprint with Weeke scoring six of the points and Walton hitting 3-of-4 free throws.

WC's Cody Mahahan (twice) and Caldwell (once) combined to miss three straight free throws to leave the door ajar for Okawville in the final four minutes but the Rockets didn't take advantage as their season came to a halt.

Okawville was 13-of-37 from the field overall and just 3-of-12 from behind the 3-point line.

The Rockets held a slight 21-20 rebounding edge and committed 10 turnovers.

“I thought we waited too long to play hard. We waited until we got ten points down in the fourth quarter and then we decided to start picking up our intensity level,” added Coach Kraus. “Hopefully it is a lesson learned. We have yet to play for 32-minutes this time of year and I didn't think we did that tonight. I thought we played hard about 16-minutes tonight and it takes 32.”

Wayne City was 15-of-37 overall – 3-of-5 from behind the arc with Meritt hitting all three of the bombs.

Wayne City has lost both games with Woodlawn this season – a 55-44 decision in the title game of the Midland Trail Conference tournament and a 54-47 verdict on February 8 at Woodlawn.

“We will be ready to play (Friday night) and we played them (Woodlawn) close both times and we are looking forward to having a chance again and it will definitely be a tough task,” finalized Coach Gerlach.

Wayne City (37) – Smith 2 0 2-2 6, Manahan 1 0 0-4 2, Feather 1 0 0-0 2, Withrow 0 0 0-0 0, Meritt 7 3 0-0 23, Caldwell 2 0 0-1 4. 2FG-13, 3FG-3, FT-2-7, PF-12.
Okawville (36) – Co. Obermeier 0 1 0-0 3, Brammeier 0 0 0-0 0, Weeke 7 1 4-4 21, Walton 3 1 3-4 12, Holtgrave 0 0 0-0 0, Ca. Obermeier 0 0 0-0 0, Buss 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-10, 3FG-3, FT-7-8, PF-15.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.