Graham's Bid For State Title Falls Short To Toledo Libbey 51-44

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Falcons' Bid For State Falls Short To Toledo Libbey


Yappi.com Photo by Bryant Billing

Julius Wells (center, 34) goes up for a basket for Toledo Libbey. The Cowboys went on to win 51-44.

Cold shooting in early fourth doomed Graham

By Bryant Billing

COLUMBUS- "We just didn't get enough." Those words from Graham's head coach Brook Cupps summed up the game perfectly. The Falcons didn't get enough rebounds. They didn't make enough shots. The didn't get enough possessions because they turned the ball over too much. The Graham Falcons (26-1) fell short to the Toledo Libbey Cowboys (24-2) 51-44 in the first game of the 2008 OHSAA state tournament at Value City Arena.

The game was close from the start.

Austin Jones put Graham out in front 8-7 with a basket with 3:15 left in the first quarter. The game continued to go back and forth, as Graham had a 13-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter went slow.

Graham did not score until four and a half minutes into the quarter. Libbey, on the other hand, went on a 6-0 run in that period to take a 17-13 lead. Graham would never again regain the lead.

The rest of the quarter went back and forth, as Toledo Libbey had a 22-20 lead at the end of the second quarter.

The third quarter went even slower.

Both teams missed a lot of shots in the quarter, which was a common theme of the game. Graham tied the game, but Libbey pulled out in front 29-28 at the end of the third quarter.

The Cowboys then put the game away.

Graham did not score until three and a half minutes into the quarter. Libbey didn't let this drought pass them by, and they went ahead by ten. A Lance Jones dunk with 3:30 left in the fourth gave Libbey their biggest lead of the day at that point at 41-31.

But Graham was not going away without a fight.

The Falcons responded with a 10-2 run over the next two minutes. Graham finally started to make shots, while the Cowboys missed almost all of their free-throws during that time Ethan Ward made a three pointer with 1:37 left to close the gap to 43-41.

But the Falcons didn't come any closer.

Graham began to foul Libbey more in the closing minute, and this time Libbey made their free-throws. That lifted Libbey to a 51-44 win.

This turned out to be a sloppy game.

Both teams shot bad. Toledo Libbey shot 19-51 (37.3%) from the field. Graham shot .2% better, as they went 15-40 (37.5%) from the field. Not exactly state tournament statistics.

Graham was hurt the worst in the shooting category. Their cold spells at the beginning of the second and fourth quarters cost them the game.

Graham's leading scorer, Josh Schuler, did not score a point until halfway into the fourth quarter. That hurt Graham, and was an example of how their offense stalled. Give the credit to Libbey's Lance Jones for stopping Schuler. He played him close all game, and the pressure got to Schuler.

Graham made up for that in the rebounding category. The Falcons out-rebounded Toledo Libbey 36-32, despite Libbey's starters being an average of 2.4 inches taller than Graham's starters.

Another factor was, as always, free-throw shooting. Toledo Libbey shot 13-26 (50%) from the free-throw line, while Graham shot 9-14 (64%) from the free-throw line. Libbey had a tough time making their foul shots in the fourth quarter, and it almost cost them the game.

In the end it came out to who was tougher on defense. And that was Toledo Libbey. The Cowboys had 11 steals on the night, while Graham had 5.

Graham head coach Brook Cupps agrees that Libbey was stronger on defense.

"They [Toledo Libbey] did a good job of mixing their defenses up between the zone and the man," Cupps said. "[They were] very long, very athletic, very aggressive, and we just didn't make some of the plays that we have been making."

"Toledo Libbey did a good job of attacking the basket, which hurt us on the boards. They just outplayed us. They deserved to win."

But Toledo Libbey head coach Leroy Bates gave equal credit to Graham.

"[Graham] did an outstanding job," Gates commented. Their kids played extremely well. That did what we expected them to do. They made us play their style of basketball"

He went on to address the problems with his own team.

"We were a little tentative early on. When your playing in that state tournament, you have to play with a better focus."

"I never really thought we ever had any momentum. We had to make them come out and play us, and then we could use dribble penetration and dishes to the block to score."

"I was not pleased with our shot selection. We were forcing shots, and I didn't think it was necessary."

"Just watch out for them next year," said Graham senior Travis Crooks, referring to his teammates. "I have a feeling their going to win state."

Individual Statistics: Player, Two Point Field Goals made/attempted, Total Points. Toledo Libbey- Lance Jones 2-3 10; Julius Wells 2-6 4; Brad Sandridge 2-8 6; William Buford 9-24 21; Brandon Ham 1-1 2; Bradley Burton 3-7 7; Rodney Everage 0-0 1. Graham- Travis Crooks 3-4 7; Ethan Ward 5-10 14; Austin Jones 1-6 2; Josh Schuler 2-13 8; Ben Rosenberger 2-4 8; Casey Crable 2-2 5.

Team Statistics: Field Goals, Three-Pointers, Free-Throws, Turnovers, Rebounds. Toledo Libbey- 19-51 (37.3%), 0-7 (0%), 13-26 (50%), 9, 32. Graham- 15-40 (37.5%), 5-19 (26.3%), 9-14 (64.3%), 19, 36.