Millice's Free-Throws Lift Triad Over Troy Christian In Overtime

[SFIND]

By Bryant Billing

PIQUA- You better be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it. Troy Christian head coach Dan Vaughan got exactly what he asked for. The Triad student section stood up, and cheered. Then, after the game, they gave him a lot of crow to eat. Triad's Jordan Millice made two free-throws in the final seconds in a wild and crazy game to lift his Cardinals (18-3) to a win and sent the Troy Christian Eagles (11-10) packing.

The game was tight throughout, and it started at the very beginning.

The game was going back and forth, as both offense were clicking. Triad had a 13-9 lead with 3:10 left in the first, but Troy Christian closed out the quarter on a 8-0 run to take a 17-13 lead at the end of the first. Triad responded with a 6-0 run at the start of the second, thus giving them a 19-17 lead.

The second quarter continued to go back and forth, but Troy Christian's man-to-man pressure defense proved to be too tough for the Cardinals. Troy Christian slowly crept out to a 28-25 lead at the half.

The third quarter was a tight one as well.

Triad kept making good and often luck shots. Levi Wynn made a three-pointer 2:25 left in the third quarter from NBA range to give the Cardinals a 36-35 lead. Triad went out in front further, but Ryan Bucher made a basket for Troy Christian at the buzzer to cut Triad's lead to one at 40-39.

Then the fun started.

A tight fourth quarter saw the teams tied a 47 with 1:17 left. Rich Roots made a basket for Troy Christian with eleven seconds left to give the Eagles a 49-47 lead. It looked like he was going to be the hero. Then he cost the Eagles their lead. He fouled Triad's Jordan Millice, who made one foul shot. He then fouled Millice again, who redeemed himself and made both foul shots. That gave Triad a 50-49 lead with .1 second left in the game. The Triad fans stood up and cheered, as it appeared to a be done deal.

But not so fast. Troy Christian had a trick up their sleeve.

Troy Christian was trying to inbound a ball, with Triad's Levi Wynn guarding the Eagle trying to take the ball out. When he wasn't looking, Troy Christian's Ben McGraner came up when Wynn and let Wynn run into him. That resulted in a charge called on Wynn, and Troy Christian had a chance to win it. McGraner made his first, but he missed his second. We were going to overtime.

The game then slowed down.

Levi Wynn made a basket with 3:10 left in the game, and that was the last points scored for over two minutes. Triad's Shane Ober fouler Troy Christian's Logan Francis, who made both free-throws. That gave the Eagles a 57-56 lead with less than ten seconds left. It looked like the Eagles were about to pull it out. But Troy Christians Sam Armstrong fouled Traid's Jordan Millice, who delivered again for the Cardinals and made both free-throws. Those were the winning points, and Triad went away the 58-57 winners.

That was as good of a first round game as you are going to get. Both teams had opportunities to pull away, but they never let the other get out of their site. There is nothing like two great offenses and two great man-to-man pressure defenses. That is exactly what this game delivered.

Obviously free-throws made a difference in the game. Triad was the team that capitalized on their attempts, which won them the game. Triad was 14-22 from the charity stripe, while Troy Christian was 8-15.

The two players that were major reasons why the Cardinals won were Jordan Millice (23 points) and Levi Wynn (15 points). Millice made his foul shots with much pressure, while Wynn delivered three-pointers at critical times to keep the Cardinals in it.

Triad now advances to play Botkins this Wednesday, February 20, at 7:30. The game is at Piqua's Garby Gymnasium.

Individual Scoring: Triad- Austin Dixion 5; Charlie Hackworth 3; Jordan Millice 23; Adam Moore 8; Justin Roberts 4; Levi Wynn 15. Troy Christian- Sam Armstrong 12; Logan Francis 6; Benjamin Swartz 6; Benjamin McGraner 9; Benjamin Bucher 3; Rich Boots 12; Nathan Ebert 7.