Tigers fall in OT to Goshen

     GREENFIELD – After knocking away what could have been the game-winning shot in regulation, the McClain Tigers ran out of steam in the overtime period, with rebounding, free throw shooting and shots falling through the hoop at a premium Friday night in a 54-51 loss to Goshen.

     Each team was bit by the turnover bug in the season opener with the Tigers committing 25. The Warriors were forced into 26 turnovers.

     “It’s tough when you create 26 turnovers, hold a team to 41 points in regulation and still lose the game,” McClain head coach Brent Eaton said. “Tonight we just didn’t have a good night shooting.”

     In a game that was physical by both teams, the Tigers attempted just 12 free throws, compared to 23 by the Warriors. MHS was 7 of 12 from the line, as GHS finished 15 of 23.

     “They got the free throws and we didn’t,” Eaton said. “It’s nobody’s fault. If we make a free throw, a 3-pointer or a layup at certain points in the game, we win it. The biggest thing was we didn’t make shots, bottom line.”

     McClain (0-1) began the fourth trailing 34-32, but that quickly changed when the Warriors (1-0) scored four points to start the quarter, with Ryan Donldson, Derek Bunnell and Kody Lehman, who stands at 6-11, all contributed to the scoring.

     McClain senior Kameron Mace broke up the scoring with a 3-pointer at the 6:19 mark of the quarter, as he released the shot right in front of the McClain student section. Mace wasn’t finished as the senior intercepted the an inbounds pass and made the open layup to bring the Tigers within one-point of the Warriors with 5:29 left in regulation.

     After GHS increased their lead by to three, and the Tigers were unable to capitalize on the offensive side of the boards, but it was Mace again who sparked the Tigers by taking the ball the length of the court and connecting with a layup, that kissed the glass and went through the hoop for two points. Mace finished with nine points.

     “Kameron (Mace) was most impressive (Friday),” Eaton said. “He pulls us back with steals and rebounds. He is an absolute warrior and a joy to coach.”

     With 2:20 left in the fourth senior Logan Wise went 2 of 2 from the free-throw line to give MHS a 41-40 lead. GHS tied the game with 1:23 left in regulation as Thomas Gibson went 1 of 2 from the line, forcing the game into overtime.

     Wise leapt and knocked an inbounds attempt away from the Warriors and GHS didn’t convert their final put back attempt for the win in regulation.

     “When we had the final time out in the fourth we had drawn up the right play and I told Logan (Wise) to swat at the pass and he did exactly what we wanted to do,” Eaton said. “The kids are listening and working hard.”

      In the OT period Gibson forced a turnover, going full court for the layup at the 3:36 mark for a 43-41 lead.

     MHS senior L.T. Walters came back with a free throw conversion to bring MHS within one point of tying the game. GHS answered with a free throw by Lehman. The GHS increased their lead to four points with a bucket from Bunnell with 1:36 left in overtime.

     McClain senior Lucas Polley, who led MHS with 14 points, brought the Tiger fans to their feet with a pressured 3-pointer with 48.6 remaining. The Warriors came back with two free throws, but the Tigers were there again, this time with a 3-point basket by senior Caleb Gregory at the 25.9 mark of the extra period. Gregory finished the game with 11 points.

     GHS ended the game converting 5 of 7 shots from the line. Wise made the score closer with a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Wise netted a total of eight points, with two 3-pointers. He was 2 of 4 from the free-throw line.

     Eaton pointed out the tough play of junior Zach Matracia, as he fouled out in the final quarter, but caused problems for the Warriors the entire time he was in the game.

     “Zach got into foul trouble which hurt us down the stretch,” Eaton said. “He is a warrior and plays hard. He was faced with adversity the whole game (foul trouble and guarding Lehman) but he never stopped working.”

     In the first half MHS led 11-8. Senior Zack Mullikin gave the Tigers their second lead of the game at 6-5 with inside points. Gregory sank his first 3-point shot of the game at the buzzer to end the opening quarter. At the half the Tigers led 21-19. Nik Beatty gave MHS a 20-16 lead with 1:55 left in the second when he knocked down a jumper.

     The Tigers will be back in action Saturday as they play in the Zane Trace Tipoff Classic when they take on Westfall at 4:45 p.m. at ZTHS.

     “They (Westfall) have eight kids who are over 6-3,” Eaton said. “We don’t have any. We have to make shots and just shoot the ball when we have the opportunity.”

BOX SCORE

SCORE BY QUARTERS

GHS – 8 11 15 7 13 – 54

MHS – 11 10 11 9 10 – 51

INDIVIDUAL STATS
GHS (54)

N.Wake 0 (2) 4-4 10, D.Bunnell 6 (2) 1-2 19, N.Godby 0 (1) 2-3 5, T.Gibson 2 2-4 6, A.Burch 0 1-2 1, K.Lehman 4 5-8 13. TOTALS: 12 (5) 15-23 54.

MHS (51)

K.Mace 3 (1) 9, L.Wise 0 (2) 2-4 8, L.Polley 5 (1) 1-3 14, C.Gregory 2 (2) 1-1 11, L.Walters 1 3-4 5, N.Beatty 1 2, Z.Mullikin 1 2. TOTALS: 13 (6) 7-12 51.