43
Undefeated Tigers survive Raiders scare
By Tom Williams
BEAVER TOWNSHIP
With tournament time approaching, undefeated basketball teams can benefit from an adversity test.
“I told our kids we needed this,” Springfield High head coach Eric Fender said after his Tigers escaped South Range with a 47-42 victory Tuesday night. “We have to figure out how to face adversity, how to handle tough times.
“When you’re on top and they see the recognition we’ve been getting, that gives them extra motivation. We’ve got a bull’s-eye on our backs — we’ve got to stay focused.”
Midway though the third quarter, the undefeated Tigers (16-0, 11-0 Inter Tri-County League Tier One) were cruising with a 37-23 lead.
That’s when the Raiders (10-6, 7-3) kicked into gear, slicing the deficit to one, 43-42, Garrett Anderson’s basket with less than a minute remaining.
Rescuing the Tigers was Graham Mincher, who sank three free throws in the final seconds to keep his team’s unbeaten streak alive.
“This was a good experience for us,” said Mincher, who finished with 27 points. “We really haven’t had a game like this — similar to what [we might face] in the tournament.”
Fender called Mincher “a special kid. He has the ability to go outside and the ability to penetrate inside.
“He’s probably one of the best free-throw shooters in the area.”
South Range head coach John Cullen said Mincher was the key.
“We wanted to try and contain Mincher, but we still fouled him too many times,” Cullen said.
Momentum shifted when Tigers 6-foot-4 post player Mark Schuler picked up his third (with 14 seconds left in the third quarter) and fourth fouls (with 7:34 remaining). Preston Stitt’s free throws made it a 10-point game going to the final quarter.
After Greg Dunham sank a 3-pointer, Anderson scored from underneath for a 37-32 game.
“I was really proud of our defense that got us back into the game,” Cullen said. “They are a team that doesn’t make many mistakes.”
With four minutes to go, Dunham scored on a layup to make it 38-36. Two minutes later, Dunham sank two free throws for a 41-40 score, but the Raiders could get no closer.
“They hit shots,” Fender said of the Raiders’ strong finish. “They didn’t do that in the first half.”
Neither team scored much at first as the Tigers led 10-9 after one quarter.
Anderson scored two baskets and Robbie Matos hit an outside jumper to give South Range a 15-12 lead.
The Tigers responded with a 14-0 run to end the first half. Mincher sparked the run with two 3-pointers and three foul shots. Jordon Peterson also scored a 3-pointer while Schuler had a basket underneath.
“You have to play a really clean game against a team that mature,” Cullen said, citing a 20-14 turnover margin that favored the Tigers. “We played the game at least as well as them.
“But you can’t make 20 turnovers against a team that doesn’t beat themselves.”
Hunter Snyder scored eight points and Schuler six for the Tigers.
Anderson paced the Raiders with 14 points and eight rebounds. Dunham scored 13 and Stitt nine.
“That was the first time we’ve gotten their attention in four games,” said Cullen, referring to his two seasons at South Range. “It was a good competitive game.
“We’d love to have a chance to play them again.”