When we last left these opponents, they had finished polishing each other off at each others’ home courts during the 2010-11 season. The second game would prove costly for the Hawks as the Green Bears gained revenge for the Hawks’ win in the opener and clinched the TAAC Championship in a sold out game in the Valley.
Last year’s Ottawa Hills team was led by all-TAAC players JJ Buckey and Andrew Jamieson. The departure of these two seniors left a big hole in the Bears’ ball handling and press breaking ability. To date, opposing teams have taken aim at these holes and OH’s lack of a true point guard. The Bears have been susceptible to pressure as far back as the Central Catholic summer league. While the Villagers came into the contest at 2-1, they had just come off a eye-opening 16 point loss at home against Cardinal Stritch, an early press being their demise.
Adding to the intrigue of the game was the transfer of one Atmore James King Jr. from Maumee Valley to Ottawa Hills. AJ, one of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet, was now showing off his 6’2” swing man skills in a Green and White uniform. His debut at his former school was much anticipated by both fan bases, evidenced on one side by an OH pre-game spirit video AJ being kidnapped by:
• the ‘4’8”, 85 lbs.’ Dave Brown
• Cello Playing Rick Deichert and
• Jersey Rippin’ Kristin Bigelow
The HawkSquad’s faithful student section would counter with a greeting of its own during pre-game intros.
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| Welcome back young man. |
But the oddest feel of the night was the sense that Maumee Valley was on top of this long-storied rivalry for the moment, following years of series domination by their neighbors to the north. For once in a blue moon, it was the Green Bears seeking an upset at the Varsity Gym.
It was to be an evening of Trading Places.
Game Summary
HawkNation was out in full force last night to watch their team defeat the Green Bears 51-39 at the Valley in front of a sold-out house and BCSN television audience. With the win, Maumee Valley righted their ship in TAAC play, finishing 2-1 in the three-games-in-seven-nights gauntlet of Gibsonburg, TC and OH. The back to back wins against TC and OH are another milestone for MV, their first such set in many a year.
Ottawa Hills has a big front line, but if you can't get the ball into that group, they can't do much damage. MV used full court pressure and forced 22 OH turnovers during the contest. The defense energized the home team, which jumped to a 13 point half time lead. In the second half, the Hawks played big time Robo-ball, controlling the pace and limiting the Bears' shot opportunities. MV made their free throws down the stretch and iced the game in the last quarter.
Dave Brown was the unsung hero of the second half, controlling the ball for a series of long stretches for which OH had no answer. Opponents simply don't apply more than token pressure against MV this season because of Dave's ball-handling presence.
First Quarter MV 24 – OH 15
Starting five – Dave Brown (’13), Rick Deichert (’12), Jared Sturt (’12), Jonathan Krueger (’12) and Julius Turner (’12)
OH starting five – Ian Trickey, AJ King, RJ Coil, Lucas Janowicz, Geoffrey Beans
Of note, this was not the visitors’ regular starting five. Coach Dave Lindsay went with a Big-guy lineup, hoping that the Coil-Janowicz-King-Beans front would cause problems.
There would indeed be problems caused by this lineup, but they were mostly self-inflicted, relating to OH ball handling.
Jared won the tip and OH fell back into a 2-3 zone, where they stayed for the greatest percentage of the evening. Julius got the ball rolling for the Hawks with a three pointer from the left wing. The Bears were also successful their first time down the court with a Lucas Janowicz cleanup basket. A Hawk miss led to an OH double low post set, and Janowicz scored again to make it 4-3 Bears.
Rick missed a three pointer, but OH was called for a travel. Maumee Valley worked the ball in to Jared Sturt for a layup. MV had problems grabbing a rebound on the next possession and Janowicz scored on an inbounds play for an 8-5 OH lead. Jon Krueger was fouled shooting and made both.
MV put their press on at the 4:41 mark, but Rick fouled AJ King on a two point try which resulted in three free throws-don’t ask. AJ made all three for the 10-7 Green Bear lead, their biggest of the evening. Julius Turner then drove through the middle of the zone and drew a shooting foul; he split the pair.
Into the game came Ben Silverman for OH, leading to a matchup of First Team All-Ohio Golfers, Ben vs. Rick.
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| Hey, isn't that Thad Motta over there to the right? |
The press continued and succeeded – Julius picked off a pass at the OH foul line and drove back in for a floor foul – which they did not convert. More pressing led to another floor foul, but Julius intercepted the pass and scored a pair.
The press started to wear on the Bears. MV trapped AJ in the offensive end, and Julius ripped the ball away – a pass to Jared gave the Hawks their first lead at 12-11. OH was at risk of a 10 second call but was rescued by Coach Lindsay, who called a time out at the 3:13 mark.
Another OH miss led to a Jared Sturt cleanup basket, and OH turned the ball over again on the press. Jared cleaned this up as well.
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| No mom, I'm not getting an earring. |
The 8-0 Hawk run was enough and Coach Lindsay called his second time out to draw up an answer. But the pressure got to the Bears again. Julius swiped the ball away from AJ for another break/layup.
King finally broke the drought for OH with a two pointer, but Julius swished a three ball from his familiar perch on the left wing. AJ created some space for himself and scored, and MV had the ball with 45 seconds left. With the OH student section screaming at the Hawks, they worked it around to Rick at the buzzer which ‘quieted’ the crowd.
The home team was up nine after the first frame
Second Quarter MV 11 – OH 8
Starting the quarter – Jared, Dixon Stoddard, Julius, Rick, Dave
OH had the ball in bounds to start the quarter; a flurry of turnovers ensued capped by AJ’s finest moment of the game, as he blocked a streaking Rick on a layup attempt. The Green end of the crowd went wild, but it didn’t faze the home team. Jared drew a shooting foul and made 1. Lucas Janowicz scored two for OH on a fade away.
The BCSN microphone then proceeded to fall down from the OH basket and a five minute timeout ensued. That’s life in the big leagues.
Geoffrey Beans gained a rare OH press break with a layup, but Rick was left wide open on the right wing and downed a three. Ottawa Hills’ 6’7” sophomore RJ Coil hit long-range two pointer to close it to 28-21. Then after a long but unfruitful MV possession, Rick picked AJ’s pocket at the Bears’ three point arc and went the distance for two.
MV went back to the press, forcing OH into their third time out of the half. Their plans during the break were successful, as Ian Trickey scored for the visitors, cutting it to 30-23. Following unsuccessful offensive sets for both teams, Rick fed off the visiting crowd again and downed a trey from the left side.
Jared then excited the when he blocked Coil at close range. Jon Krueger cashed in with a two pointer from the right hand elbow. That would be it for the half and the Hawks went to the locker room with a 35-23 lead.
Third Quarter OH 12 – MV 7
Starting the quarter – Original starting five
Jon Krueger drew a shooting foul to open the period and made one. Ottawa Hills threw the ball away, but MV did not capitalize. Lucas Janowicz scored first for the Bears with a field goal from the left hand baseline. The Hawks lost the ball and AJ King made it two in a row for the visitors, who had cut the lead to 36-27.
Jared worked hard at the other end, drawing a shooting foul and making both shots. After a series of goose eggs for each team (during which Julius drew his third foul), Rick got out on the break and scored for MV.
The Bears made their best run at the Hawks over the next two minutes, scoring 8 straight points and cutting the lead to 40-35, but Jared steadied the Hawk ship with this two pointer:
OH could not convert at quarter’s end, and it was 42-35 at the end of three. The visitors did not quit, and had closed the gap to seven points with one quarter to play.
Fourth Quarter MV 9 – OH 4
Starting the quarter – Original starting five
MV had the ball in, and Julius got a great look for a three pointer, but didn’t convert.
MV got the ball back and as Rick passed by the bench, the fourth quarter close shave with TC was still fresh in his mind. In battle-cry mode, he yelled out to the coaches ‘We need to attack!’
Julius must have overheard him and drove strong to the hoop, drawing the foul and making the pair. MV aggressively defended with the press, but Jon committed his third foul going for a steal at half court. OH missed the front end of a 1-and-1, letting a chance slip away.
Jon missed for MV, but again OH couldn’t make the Hawks pay. The Bears called a time out at the 6:00 mark and tried their first press on the evening. It got them nowhere and MV ran some weave offense, keeping their distance from the packed 2-3 zone. OH finally tried to match up at the top, and Dave Brown immediately knifed to the basket, drawing the shooting foul and converting after a one minute possession.
Julius committed his fourth foul on the press, and Ian Trickey split the pair. It was MV 46 - OH 36.
Rick Deichert missed a try, but once more OH could not cut into the lead. Another MV miss and Coach Lindsay called time out to prep for the stretch run. Janowicz missed a tough turn-around jumper from the left baseline, and then Ian Trickey fouled Rick – who missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Jon Krueger fouled Trickey and the Bears were in the double bonus. Trickey went 1 for 2.
MV slowed things down considerably. Ottawa Hills tried their best to harass Dave, but this proved to be a frustrating affair for the Bears. After running 40 seconds off the clock, it was Coach Robinson’s turn to call time out at the 2:08 mark.
MV threw the ball away trying to run the clock down, but Jared Sturt redeemed his teammates with a big steal. Another MV turnover, but now at 1:38 the Bears were battling two foes – the Hawks and the rapidly advancing clock.
Geoffrey Beans scored a two pointer, but it took a full 35 seconds in an offensive set. With under a minute to go, the visitors were now forced to foul – first Dave Brown made two, then after another long, unfruitful OH offensive possession Rick split another pair. Another forced Green Bear foul Rick made two more to finish it off.
The Hawks had learned their lesson at Toledo Christian, this time convincingly closing out a victory against a big rival, 50-39.
Final Game Thoughts
You definitely got the feeling in this game that OH considered themselves to be the underdog this year – and they played like a talented, but very young team. OH has only one Senior in their primary rotation. They will get better as the season goes on and should be one of the favorites in the pre-season 2012-13 TAAC coaches’ poll.
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| Don't worry Mortimer, it's only basketball. |
But for this season at least, when one things about the TAAC, it’s the Hawks on top and the Bears needing to work things out.
Potpourri
The Game was broadcast on BCSN (not in HD)…The win was the Hawks' first over their TAAC rivals at the Varsity Gym in at least five years…another sellout for the Hawks…it was AJ mania on both sides, as the Hawk cheering section donned ‘AJ masks” for the intro…
Scoring
And now for the happy totals. MV's trio of Rick Deichert, Julius Turner and Jared Sturt combined for 42 points on the evening. Each had their hot streaks, especially Julius in the first quarter, then Rick in the second. Rick led the way with 16; Julius and Jared each had 13 on the night.
Also scoring for the Hawks were Jon Krueger with 5 and Dave Brown with four, all big free throws in the fourth quarter.
Next up
The Hawks head out of conference, traveling southwest for a matchup with the Division III Tigers of Liberty Center.
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