Morgan edges Hanover in OT; Washington tops Boone at PCC tourney
By Dave Melton Post-Tribune correspondent January 18, 2012 11:10PM
Morgan Twp's Chase Braden blocks Hanover Central's Nick Bollenbacher in the fourth quarter Wednesday evening at Hebron High School. | Jeffrey D. Nicholls~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 21, 2012 8:32AM
HEBRON — A thrilling contest opened the Porter County Conference tournament Wednesday, as Morgan Township advanced to the semifinal round with a 55-53 overtime victory over Hanover Central.
The Cherokees rallied from a nine-point deficit to force overtime, then put the game away by converting on three of their four free-throw attempts in the extra period.
“I couldn’t be any more proud of our kids. I told them that if they keep battling, good things were going to come,” Morgan coach Matt Bush said.
With 22.2 seconds left in OT, a Ryan Kiklus free throw, his game-high 24th point of the night, put Morgan ahead 53-52. On the ensuing possession, Hanover’s Nick Bollenbacher missed from 3-point range. Morgan got two more free throws from Chase Braden.
Hanover had one more chance, trailing by three with five seconds left and Bollenbacher at the line, shooting two. After making the first attempt, Bollenbacher fired his second shot at the front of the rim, bouncing the ball right back into his hands and then stepped back to fire a potential game-winning 3. But the shot rimmed out, giving the Cherokees the victory.
In the nightcap, Washington Township bested Boone Grove 57-53, avenging a three-point loss from earlier in the season.
“We’ve been in most games this season,” Washington coach Scott Bowersock said. “Tonight, we put together a pretty good 32 minutes of basketball.”
The Senators took a five-point lead into the final quarter and then kept Boone Grove in their rearview mirror by hitting 13 of their 14 free throw attempts.
“We stress those all the time,” Bowersock said of free throws. “Our guys stepped up in a big situation tonight and hit those free throws.”
Garrett Short was the star of the night for Washington, fighting off a sprained ankle to score 25 points—including 7-for-9 on free throw attempts in the fourth quarter.
“Our team did a good job of getting me in position to hit some shots; we really moved the ball,” said Short. “But free throws were a big part of the game for us.”
Dean Hill and Jake Clapp each had 16 points to lead the Wolves.
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