Squires Rally, But Come Up Short In Title Tilt
March 6, 2017 at 5:07 p.m.
Squires Rally, But Come Up Short In Title Tilt
By Ryan Villanueva-
Both have endured tough roads and memorable wins leading up to Saturday night’s sectional championship at Oak Hill High School.
With it being an all-Wabash County affair, and a sectional championship at stake, the game was set up to be very competitive where both sides would leave everything on the court.
Despite Manchester junior guard Mason Hamby’s 20 points, and trimming a 13-point deficit to one with a minute remaining in the game, the Squires fell 54-49.
Manchester coach Mark Underwood spoke of how much pride he had in his team despite them falling just short.
“They’re just a great group of guys. They played with so much heart all year,” said Underwood. “This was a demonstration of how much it matters to them. With their work ethic and their attitude, it was just an honor and a privilege to be around these guys.”
Southwood (21-4) forward Matthew Nose led all scorers with 24 points. Junior guard Carson Blair added nine points and senior guard Blake Martz posted seven points.
In his final game as a Squire, David McAtee scored 12 points, while junior Koehl Fluke and sophomore Brayden Casper added nine and eight points, respectively.
It was a classic back-and-forth battle between the last remaining TRC teams. There were four lead changes and the largest lead for either team was five points in the first half alone.
The first quarter of action displayed the intensity and attitudes of both sides. It was capped by a late three from Blair, followed by a buzzer-beating three from Manchester’s McAtee that left the Squires with a 16-14 lead over the favored Knights.
Early in the second quarter, the Squires pushed their lead out to four, but capitalization on missed shots saw Manchester’s lead vanish and Southwood jumped out to a four-point lead at halftime.
After the intermission, Southwood maintained its momentum from the first half and stretched the lead to 40-27 with less than five minutes remaining in the quarter after consecutive three-point baskets from Blair and Nose. Manchester narrowed the deficit to eight by the end of the third quarter.
Down eight with eight minutes left to decide who would advance to the Lapel Regional, the Squires looked within.
A quick three from Hamby closed the gap to five. After quick baskets from Southwood’s Dallas Holmes and Nose, Manchester answered back with a 7-0 run to make it a 44-42 game. Southwood responded with a 6-0 run, and time was running out for the Squires.
With the deficit at eight, Manchester went on another 7-0 run, capped by McAtee drawing a foul after making a basket. Completing the three-point play, Manchester was down by one with 1:09 remaining in the game.
Nose scored the team’s final four points and Manchester just couldn’t get shots to fall in the closing seconds, ending their tournament run.
Manchester concluded the season with an overall record of 8-17. McAtee, David Byers, Levi Hicks, Kane Gable and Heath Dierks put on the jerseys bearing their school’s name on it for the final time, and Underwood praised them for their contributions.
“I told the guys that if we did have success next year, if we’re able to win a county tourney, a conference, a sectional or any combination of the three that I will give credit to this senior class for setting the groundwork and being great leaders,” said Underwood. “I think that even though they are going to graduate, what they have given to the program is going to live on.”
Southwood will face Frankton Saturday in the Lapel Regional.
SOUTHWOOD 54, MANCHESTER 49
M 16 9 7 17 – 49
SW 14 15 11 14 – 54
Manchester – Brayden Casper 3 0-0 8, Adam Byers 0 0-0 0, Mason Hamby 7 4-4 20, David McAtee 4 3-3 12, Kamdyn Lester 0 0-0 0, Koehl Fluke 4 0-0 9, Kane Gable 0 0-0 0.?Totals 18 7-7 49.
Southwood – Matthew Nose 1 2-2 24, Dallas Holmes 3 0-0 6, Jeff Finicle 1 0-0 2, Carson Blair 3 0-1 9, Peyton Trexler 3 0-0 6, Blake Martz 3 0-0 7. Totals 24 0-3 54.
Three-pointers – Manchester 6 (Casper 2, Hamby 2, McAtee, Fluke), Southwood 6 (Blair 3, Nose 2, Martz); Records: Manchester 8-17, Southwood 21-4
Both have endured tough roads and memorable wins leading up to Saturday night’s sectional championship at Oak Hill High School.
With it being an all-Wabash County affair, and a sectional championship at stake, the game was set up to be very competitive where both sides would leave everything on the court.
Despite Manchester junior guard Mason Hamby’s 20 points, and trimming a 13-point deficit to one with a minute remaining in the game, the Squires fell 54-49.
Manchester coach Mark Underwood spoke of how much pride he had in his team despite them falling just short.
“They’re just a great group of guys. They played with so much heart all year,” said Underwood. “This was a demonstration of how much it matters to them. With their work ethic and their attitude, it was just an honor and a privilege to be around these guys.”
Southwood (21-4) forward Matthew Nose led all scorers with 24 points. Junior guard Carson Blair added nine points and senior guard Blake Martz posted seven points.
In his final game as a Squire, David McAtee scored 12 points, while junior Koehl Fluke and sophomore Brayden Casper added nine and eight points, respectively.
It was a classic back-and-forth battle between the last remaining TRC teams. There were four lead changes and the largest lead for either team was five points in the first half alone.
The first quarter of action displayed the intensity and attitudes of both sides. It was capped by a late three from Blair, followed by a buzzer-beating three from Manchester’s McAtee that left the Squires with a 16-14 lead over the favored Knights.
Early in the second quarter, the Squires pushed their lead out to four, but capitalization on missed shots saw Manchester’s lead vanish and Southwood jumped out to a four-point lead at halftime.
After the intermission, Southwood maintained its momentum from the first half and stretched the lead to 40-27 with less than five minutes remaining in the quarter after consecutive three-point baskets from Blair and Nose. Manchester narrowed the deficit to eight by the end of the third quarter.
Down eight with eight minutes left to decide who would advance to the Lapel Regional, the Squires looked within.
A quick three from Hamby closed the gap to five. After quick baskets from Southwood’s Dallas Holmes and Nose, Manchester answered back with a 7-0 run to make it a 44-42 game. Southwood responded with a 6-0 run, and time was running out for the Squires.
With the deficit at eight, Manchester went on another 7-0 run, capped by McAtee drawing a foul after making a basket. Completing the three-point play, Manchester was down by one with 1:09 remaining in the game.
Nose scored the team’s final four points and Manchester just couldn’t get shots to fall in the closing seconds, ending their tournament run.
Manchester concluded the season with an overall record of 8-17. McAtee, David Byers, Levi Hicks, Kane Gable and Heath Dierks put on the jerseys bearing their school’s name on it for the final time, and Underwood praised them for their contributions.
“I told the guys that if we did have success next year, if we’re able to win a county tourney, a conference, a sectional or any combination of the three that I will give credit to this senior class for setting the groundwork and being great leaders,” said Underwood. “I think that even though they are going to graduate, what they have given to the program is going to live on.”
Southwood will face Frankton Saturday in the Lapel Regional.
SOUTHWOOD 54, MANCHESTER 49
M 16 9 7 17 – 49
SW 14 15 11 14 – 54
Manchester – Brayden Casper 3 0-0 8, Adam Byers 0 0-0 0, Mason Hamby 7 4-4 20, David McAtee 4 3-3 12, Kamdyn Lester 0 0-0 0, Koehl Fluke 4 0-0 9, Kane Gable 0 0-0 0.?Totals 18 7-7 49.
Southwood – Matthew Nose 1 2-2 24, Dallas Holmes 3 0-0 6, Jeff Finicle 1 0-0 2, Carson Blair 3 0-1 9, Peyton Trexler 3 0-0 6, Blake Martz 3 0-0 7. Totals 24 0-3 54.
Three-pointers – Manchester 6 (Casper 2, Hamby 2, McAtee, Fluke), Southwood 6 (Blair 3, Nose 2, Martz); Records: Manchester 8-17, Southwood 21-4
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