Springfield avenges league loss
By Greg Gulas
NEW MIDDLETOWN
When the Crestview and Springfield basketball teams met on Dec. 17, the Tigers missed their first 13 shots from the field and the end result was a 51-49 win for the Rebels, their first over the Tigers in 35 years.
In Friday’s rematch, Springfield raced to an early 12-5 lead then withstood a furious Crestwood rally in the end to post a 58-54 victory in Inter Tri-County League Tier One action.
“The key for us tonight was that we played together as a team,” Springfield coach Eric Fender said. “It was a big league game for us and a big win as we wanted to avenge our loss to them back in December.”
Nick Russell’s 24 points led three Tigers (10-4, 8-2) in double figures. Ron Rogers and Brad Ferraro added 15 and 14 points, respectively, to pace Springfield.
“Nick struggled at the free throw line in the fourth quarter, but credit him because he made them when we needed them most; down the stretch and late in the game,” Fender said.
“Give credit to Crestview — they’re a good team that never quit, no matter what the score,” Fender said. “They just kept coming at us the entire game.
Russell’s seven points in the opening period staked the Tigers to the early seven-point advantage.
Six points by Ferraro and five more by Russell offset seven markers by the Rebels’ Adam Coppock as Springfield built a 29-21 halftime advantage.
Russell, who scored 12 points in each half, said everyone seemed to come up big when the game was on the line.
“We struggled out of the gate down there but had a better start tonight and that was big for us,” Russell said. “We circled this date after losing to them the first time because we wanted to avenge that defeat.
“I was down on myself after missing six straight free throws late in the game, but stayed positive,” Russell said.
Coppock, who had seven of his team-high 14 points in the final frame, helped cut the Tigers’ lead to 56-54 with 15 seconds remaining.
Russell’s final two points from the free throw line with 11 seconds remaining sealed the victory.
“We were flat defensively the entire first quarter, but got better in the second period.
“At times this season we have struggled to score, but we were never that flat defensively,” Rebels (10-3, 7-2) coach Herman Miller said.