Shots don't fall for McClain, bow out of postseason
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
CHILLICOTHE — The Division II SE District sectional final contest for the McClain Tigers can be summed up as a game of missed opportunities.
MHS didn't make baskets when they had their best chances. Even though they did make it a closer game in the second half, a trip to the district semifinals in Athens just wasn't meant to be for the Tigers this season, as they lost by a 51-36 score to the Unioto Shermans Friday night at Southeastern High School, as UHS reaches the district semifinals for the first time in 12 seasons.
The loss by No. 5 seeded MHS ends a five-game winning streak, as they end the year at 10-13 overall.
It wasn't if the Tigers weren't prepared, because they were prepared. They had many chances to score points, but nothing would fall through the hoop for the visitors on the scoreboard.
[[In-content Ad]]With that said, on the other side of the court, the No. 4 seeded Shermans got hot from beyond the arc, building a large enough lead to fend off the Tigers for the remainder of the game.
McClain head coach Brent Eaton said, they went to a full-court press defense "out of necessity" in the second half, which at times brought the Tigers closer to the lead.
"We did nothing differently before the game," Eaton said. "Our routine was the same. I was calm, nobody got really nervous. We were calm. I told them a story, a funny story at that … and for some reason (once the game began) we got that look in our eyes like, 'oh my, we're in a big game.'
"They (UHS) didn't have that look in their eyes and we did … that was the difference. On top of that, when you miss shots, three or five footers, and it just keeps happening over-and-over, it is hard to get out of that."
Eaton also spoke about having to change their defense.
"We were down 20, so we had to do something," he said. "Our kids are fighters … our worst loss was by 15 points this year, we're not going to stop fighting. It's just a matter of doing it for four quarters, they (UHS) did ... and we didn't.
"The game was more physical this time than the first time, and they are a lot stronger than we are. That's something we have to address this offseason, and the credit goes to them. They beat us with their execution and their mindset."
The Tigers couldn't convert shots into points during the first half, as they were held to four field goals in the first two quarters (three in the first quarter), resulting in a 22-10 halftime deficit. Seven of the 10 first half points came in the opening frame.
The lone layup in the second quarter by MHS came with 6:14 on the clock, as sophomore Ryan Faulconer scored with the assist from Evan Mustard, for a 11-9 deficit. Faulconer, who didn't play the final four minutes, finished with eight points.
That was as close as the Tigers got to the lead for the remaining 22 minutes of play.
The two points by Faulconer was answered with a UHS run of 10-1 to end the frame, including three 3-pointers, two from Kyle Strange and one by Zach Downs.
Strange ended the game with eight points for UHS. The Shermans were led by Chase Detillion with 18 points in the game. Bryce Arledge added nine points total for the Shermans.
As for Detillion (a senior), he entered the game averaging a double-double, as UHS has won five of their last six games. In the first meeting vs. MHS, Detillion was held to eight points.
MHS, who defeated the Shermans 50-45 during the regular season, scored just seven points in the third, while UHS (15-8) added 11 points to their lead.
The Tigers from their field goal at the 6:14 mark of the second quarter, didn't score another point from the field (besides free throws) until the 3:46 mark of the third, with a bucket by Schrader (who totaled six points).
"The bottom line is we could have done a lot of things better, but it comes down to them being the more confident team," Eaton said. "They were the more physical team and we weren't."
The rest of the MHS scoring in the third came from the free-throw line as Mustard, John Turner and Tyler McGuire combined to go 5-of-6 from the free-throw line in the quarter.
Turner led the Tigers with 10 points, six in the final quarter. McGuire ended the night with five points.
McClain got to within 10 points of tying the score in the fourth. If shots would have fell for the Tigers, they could have cut into even more of the UHS lead, but the Shermans took advantage, once again, of the Tigers' miscues as they scored the next eight points, putting MHS down 18 (41-25) with 3:27 left in regulation.
The Tigers did have their best scoring quarter with 19 points in the final eight minutes, but it was too late to have a chance to bump the Shermans off the lead.
For MHS in the fourth, Shannon made a 3-pointer and McGuire scored three points. Also for MHS in the fourth, Faulconer made a free-throw, Schrader added four points, Turner scored six points and Philip Thompson scored two points.
The Shermans will continue their season in the district semifinals, as they will play on March 1 at the Convocation Center on the Campus of Ohio University. UHS will face the winner of No. 1 seed Warren and No. 8 seed New Lexington. The district semifinal game in Athens will tip-off at 6:15 p.m.
MHS didn't make baskets when they had their best chances. Even though they did make it a closer game in the second half, a trip to the district semifinals in Athens just wasn't meant to be for the Tigers this season, as they lost by a 51-36 score to the Unioto Shermans Friday night at Southeastern High School, as UHS reaches the district semifinals for the first time in 12 seasons.
The loss by No. 5 seeded MHS ends a five-game winning streak, as they end the year at 10-13 overall.
It wasn't if the Tigers weren't prepared, because they were prepared. They had many chances to score points, but nothing would fall through the hoop for the visitors on the scoreboard.
[[In-content Ad]]With that said, on the other side of the court, the No. 4 seeded Shermans got hot from beyond the arc, building a large enough lead to fend off the Tigers for the remainder of the game.
McClain head coach Brent Eaton said, they went to a full-court press defense "out of necessity" in the second half, which at times brought the Tigers closer to the lead.
"We did nothing differently before the game," Eaton said. "Our routine was the same. I was calm, nobody got really nervous. We were calm. I told them a story, a funny story at that … and for some reason (once the game began) we got that look in our eyes like, 'oh my, we're in a big game.'
"They (UHS) didn't have that look in their eyes and we did … that was the difference. On top of that, when you miss shots, three or five footers, and it just keeps happening over-and-over, it is hard to get out of that."
Eaton also spoke about having to change their defense.
"We were down 20, so we had to do something," he said. "Our kids are fighters … our worst loss was by 15 points this year, we're not going to stop fighting. It's just a matter of doing it for four quarters, they (UHS) did ... and we didn't.
"The game was more physical this time than the first time, and they are a lot stronger than we are. That's something we have to address this offseason, and the credit goes to them. They beat us with their execution and their mindset."
The Tigers couldn't convert shots into points during the first half, as they were held to four field goals in the first two quarters (three in the first quarter), resulting in a 22-10 halftime deficit. Seven of the 10 first half points came in the opening frame.
The lone layup in the second quarter by MHS came with 6:14 on the clock, as sophomore Ryan Faulconer scored with the assist from Evan Mustard, for a 11-9 deficit. Faulconer, who didn't play the final four minutes, finished with eight points.
That was as close as the Tigers got to the lead for the remaining 22 minutes of play.
The two points by Faulconer was answered with a UHS run of 10-1 to end the frame, including three 3-pointers, two from Kyle Strange and one by Zach Downs.
Strange ended the game with eight points for UHS. The Shermans were led by Chase Detillion with 18 points in the game. Bryce Arledge added nine points total for the Shermans.
As for Detillion (a senior), he entered the game averaging a double-double, as UHS has won five of their last six games. In the first meeting vs. MHS, Detillion was held to eight points.
MHS, who defeated the Shermans 50-45 during the regular season, scored just seven points in the third, while UHS (15-8) added 11 points to their lead.
The Tigers from their field goal at the 6:14 mark of the second quarter, didn't score another point from the field (besides free throws) until the 3:46 mark of the third, with a bucket by Schrader (who totaled six points).
"The bottom line is we could have done a lot of things better, but it comes down to them being the more confident team," Eaton said. "They were the more physical team and we weren't."
The rest of the MHS scoring in the third came from the free-throw line as Mustard, John Turner and Tyler McGuire combined to go 5-of-6 from the free-throw line in the quarter.
Turner led the Tigers with 10 points, six in the final quarter. McGuire ended the night with five points.
McClain got to within 10 points of tying the score in the fourth. If shots would have fell for the Tigers, they could have cut into even more of the UHS lead, but the Shermans took advantage, once again, of the Tigers' miscues as they scored the next eight points, putting MHS down 18 (41-25) with 3:27 left in regulation.
The Tigers did have their best scoring quarter with 19 points in the final eight minutes, but it was too late to have a chance to bump the Shermans off the lead.
For MHS in the fourth, Shannon made a 3-pointer and McGuire scored three points. Also for MHS in the fourth, Faulconer made a free-throw, Schrader added four points, Turner scored six points and Philip Thompson scored two points.
The Shermans will continue their season in the district semifinals, as they will play on March 1 at the Convocation Center on the Campus of Ohio University. UHS will face the winner of No. 1 seed Warren and No. 8 seed New Lexington. The district semifinal game in Athens will tip-off at 6:15 p.m.