Bethel – February 11, 2005
Tri-Village was looking to even their record in tonight’s league contest with the Bethel Bees. They were able to garner a couple nice leads in the games only to allow Bethel opportunities to creep back in the game. They let a 10-point lead fritter away as the Bees took advantage tying it in dramatic fashion to send it to overtime leaving the Patriots stunned by their own sting in the last regular season game.
Tri-Village raced out to a 12 – 4 lead behind Sam Lindamood and Corey Jay on the inside. But it would be for not as the Patriots would sleepwalk with under a minute to play. Tony Phillips nailed a trey and then TV threw the ball to Daniel Roock in the passing lane for an easy lay-up. Phillips struck again with 10 seconds on another three and just like that it was 12-12.
In the second quarter the Patriots scored the first five points to open the quarter before Bethel got a field goal. Lindamood hit a trey and a deuce back to back and the Pats led 22-14. But again with less then a minute to play TV threw the ball to Bethel’s Mike Kley for another easy lay-up, he followed it up with a leaner in the lane as time expired and the Bees cut it to 22-18 at the half.
Bethel seized the momentum they enjoyed at the half as they closed the lead to 22-21 with 5:48 to play in the third. But Tri-Village went on a 9-point run on a Daniel Foreman trey and three inside scores by Jay and with 1:50 to go held a 31-21 lead. Both teams would trade baskets the rest of the quarter with TV holding the edge 35-25.
Bethel feeling a sense of urgency stepped up their defensive pressure, again overplaying the wings and passing lanes generating a couple of steals. With just 2:30 gone in the 4th period they inched to within 4 points 35-31. The Patriots needed a timeout to regroup and Lindamood was able to break the drought with two off a rebound. At the 3:53 mark TV was assessed their 7th team foul putting the Bees in the bonus compared to just one team foul for Bethel.
With 3:10 to go and just a 4 point lead 37-33 the PATS were able to find Jay down the floor and Jay seized the moment throwing down with authority a monster two hand dunk. On the Patriots next trip down the floor they went back inside to Jay for another score and the lead was now 41-34. On Bethel’s next trip down the floor Jay pulled down a rebound with a Bethel player draped over him with his arm around his neck. Jay frustrated tried to swing his way out of it. The Bethel player was whistled for a foul, but… in a controversial call Jay was whistled for a technical foul. Instead of having the ball the Bees would be shooting free throws and getting possession. Bethel took advantage as they netted both throws. Bethel was fouled on the possession out of bounds and converted one of two free throws and at 1:41 again pulled to within 4 points 41-37.
With the clock nearing a minute to play and trailing by 4 points Bethel used the strategy of going hard for steals and if they fouled a Patriot in the process no harm. Bethel would foul 3 straight times but on the fourth inbounds play TV would turn the ball over on what could have been called a foul, Bethel scored and now trailed by two points. Bethel again pressured in the backcourt fouling Foreman who would be shooting one and bonus. He connected on 1 of 2 and a 42-39 lead with 35 seconds left. Bethel worked the ball around and with 12 seconds to play found Mike Kley in the corner who hit a game tying three point shot. TV would get an open look with 5 seconds to go but it was strong and the ball went out of bounds off Bethel. On the inbounds TV would get another good look at the basket but it fell short sending the game to overtime for the third time this year, falling short in the previous two.
In OT Bethel used patience in their half court set working the ball around for over a minute until they found Roock on the block for an easy two and regaining the lead 44-42 a lead they let go in the first minutes of the game. On the next possession Jay was fouled on the inside sinking one throw. Bethel went back to work again showing patience moving the ball around until they found Roock again open on the block. He would draw a 5th personal foul from Foreman sending him to the bench. Roock made both throws and their lead was 46-43. TV was unable to score on their next possession. Bethel now was content to work the ball around using the clock as their ally, which forced Tri-Village to foul. Tony Phillips stepped to the line and was good on both for a 48-43 lead. TV went back inside to Jay scoring an old-fashioned three-point play to draw them within two, 58-46 and 29 seconds to play. The PATS again fouled Phillips who sank another two. Josh Pipenger was fouled going for an offensive rebound with 15 seconds to play and his two tosses were good pulling TV to 50-48. Again TV fouled Phillips on the inbounds play and he was successful on 1 of 2. With 12 seconds to play and out of timeouts the Patriots tried to get off a three point shot but it was short as the Bees got the win 51-48.
This was a game that leaves you scratching your head wondering how you lost. In retrospect it’s momentary lapses of focus that leads to a loss like this. Just one possession of the basketball that doesn’t lead to an easy lay-up, a made free throw, a big rebound, maintaining composure in the heat of battle, but… hopefully the Patriots will learn from this loss that every possession of the basketball is important as they enter the post season tournament. The loss drops the Patriots to 9-11 on the season and 6-5 in the league for a 5th place finish.
Corey Jay went for 24 points and Sam Lindamood added 15.
The Patriots now have 9 days off due to a scheduling conflict and tourney venue change to the Wright State Nutter Center they won’t play their first tournament game until Monday February 21st at 5:30pm taking on Middletown Christian. Should they advance to the second round it will be played the next night at 8:30pm.
Scoring:
Box Score
Tri-Village Patriots
Pipenger – 2
Fisherback – 0
Foreman – 6
Snyder – 1
Quinn – 0
Lindamood – 15
Jay – 24
Totals – 48
Bethel Bees
Mayes – 7
Phillips – 22
Kley – 10
Roock – 8
Strunk – 4
Totals – 51
Tri-Village…12…22…35…42…48
Bethel……..…12…18…25…42…51
In the JV contest Tri-Village got the win 34-22 with Mark Wheeler scoring 17 points. They end the season with 7 wins 13 losses.
