BB SECT. 25: Danville outlasts North Montgomery, 78-76

By Mike McGraw
Executive Director

CRAWFORDSVILLE – Four minutes into its Class 3A Sectional 25 semifinal showdown with Danville, host North Montgomery had raced to a 13-8 lead, and the joint was rocking. It would nearly be the only fond memory Chargin’ Charger fans would have of the evening.

By quarter’s end, Danville had regained its footing and the lead, 19-16. The Warriors would dominate almost the entire rest of the game and, despite a near- miraculous comeback attempt by North Montgomery, hang on the win, 78-76.

The second quarter belonged completely to Danville (17-5). The Warriors seized control behind the deadly mid-range sniping of senior Colton Cooper and a stingy defense. North Montgomery’s offense, on the other hand, looked both ineffective and disorganized most of the period.

By halftime, the Danville lead had grown to 36-23.

North Montgomery coach Scott Radeker’s halftime adjustment was to have his team try to speed up the tempo of the game. That move succeeded in igniting the Charger offense, but the Chargers’ pressing defense did little to slow down Danville.

The lead was still eight, 53-45, at the end of the third quarter, and when Danville scored the first five points of the fourth period, the rout was on.

Danville’s margin continued to grow. By the time 6’8” center Travis Carroll garnered his fifth foul with 2:05 to play, Danville led by 17 at 74-57.

Then, events spiraled totally out of control.

In just 21 seconds after Carroll’s exit, Danville committed two turnovers and North Montgomery (16-5) had gone on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 10. Danville coach Brian Barber called a quick timeout, and one expected that Danville’s players would regain their composure.

They didn’t. Two more Warrior turnovers and an ill-advised shot, and suddenly the lead was down to five, 74-69, with just under a minute to play.

At that point, Danville had a second opportunity to stop the bleeding. Guard Michael Humphrey was fouled and stepped to the line, where he calmly drained two free throws to push the margin back to seven. Surely, that would be enough to end any remaining suspense.

Once again, that was an incorrect assumption. North Montgomery drained a 3-pointer followed by another Danville turnover. The Chargers scored again, and suddenly the lead was only two with 16 seconds to play and Danville inbounding the ball.

Now things became completely surreal. Once again, Danville made a careless inbounds pass that was knocked loose. But somewhere in the resulting melee, North Montgomery was called for a foul. Humphrey again sank both free throws, and the lead was back to 78-74.

The Chargers raced down the floor and eventually scored, but they had apparently used too much time. There were less than five seconds left, and Danville didn’t need to put the ball back in play.

In the immortal words of ESPN’s Lee Corso, “Not so fast, my friend!” North Montgomery managed to commit a floor violation that resulted in a referee’s whistle and a warning. I said a warning, not a penalty. The whistle stopped the clock with 2.2 seconds remaining, and Danville was forced to at least inbound the ball safely to salt away the win.

Inexplicably, the Warriors threw the inbound pass … out of bounds! It was now North Montgomery’s ball underneath its own basket with 2.2 seconds to play. To make matters worse for Danville, the Chargers now possessed the two tallest players on the court.

Surprisingly, the Chargers chose to lob the entry pass beyond the arc to junior standout D.J. Byrd, whose fall-away three at the buzzer bounced harmlessly off the iron. Byrd’s miss ruined what had been an outstanding second half for the Purdue commit, who had netted 17 points in the final two quarters and ended the night with 24.

The miss is all that prevented North Montgomery from completing one of the great comebacks in sectional tourney history.

Danville was led by Cooper’s 27 points. The Warriors advance to face Western Boone in the championship game Saturday night.

Western Boone (17-5) won the night’s opening game over an upset-minded Lebanon squad, 63-48, in a game that was closer than the final score indicates. The Stars led by only one at halftime but seized control with a 25-point third period that found them leading 49-37 entering the fourth.

Lebanon (4-18) mounted one last charge with a volley of 3-point baskets but was unable to close the gap to less than six. Eventually, Western Boone pulled away for the final margin.

Lebanon center Evan Acton ended his career with a marvelous game, keeping the Tigers close most of the way. The Stars, meanwhile, were led by the 16 points of guard Aaron Vaughn.

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BB SECT. 25: Danville outlasts North Montgomery, 78-76

Incredible Chargers’ comeback falls just short on Byrd’s fall-away trey

Published: 03/01/2008


Print Bookmark Email Facebook Google Email a link to your friend. Your Name Recipient Email Message BB SECT. 25: Danville outlasts North Montgomery, 78-76 Incredible Chargers’ comeback falls just short on Byrd’s fall-away trey Published: 03/01/2008 By Mike McGraw Executive Director CRAWFORDSVILLE – Four minutes into its Class 3A Sectional 25 semifinal showdown with Danville, host North Montgomery had raced to a 13-8 lead, and the joint was rocking. It would nearly be the only fond memory Chargin’ Charger fans would have of the evening. By quarter’s end, Danville had regained its footing and the lead, 19-16. The Warriors would dominate almost the entire rest of the game and, despite a near- miraculous comeback attempt by North Montgomery, hang on the win, 78-76. The second quarter belonged completely to Danville (17-5). The Warriors seized control behind the deadly mid-range sniping of senior Colton Cooper and a stingy defense. North Montgomery’s offense, on the other hand, looked both ineffective and disorganized most of the period. By halftime, the Danville lead had grown to 36-23. North Montgomery coach Scott Radeker’s halftime adjustment was to have his team try to speed up the tempo of the game. That move succeeded in igniting the Charger offense, but the Chargers’ pressing defense did little to slow down Danville. The lead was still eight, 53-45, at the end of the third quarter, and when Danville scored the first five points of the fourth period, the rout was on. Danville’s margin continued to grow. By the time 6’8” center Travis Carroll garnered his fifth foul with 2:05 to play, Danville led by 17 at 74-57. Then, events spiraled totally out of control. In just 21 seconds after Carroll’s exit, Danville committed two turnovers and North Montgomery (16-5) had gone on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 10. Danville coach Brian Barber called a quick timeout, and one expected that Danville’s players would regain their composure. They didn’t. Two more Warrior turnovers and an ill-advised shot, and suddenly the lead was down to five, 74-69, with just under a minute to play. At that point, Danville had a second opportunity to stop the bleeding. Guard Michael Humphrey was fouled and stepped to the line, where he calmly drained two free throws to push the margin back to seven. Surely, that would be enough to end any remaining suspense. Once again, that was an incorrect assumption. North Montgomery drained a 3-pointer followed by another Danville turnover. The Chargers scored again, and suddenly the lead was only two with 16 seconds to play and Danville inbounding the ball. Now things became completely surreal. Once again, Danville made a careless inbounds pass that was knocked loose. But somewhere in the resulting melee, North Montgomery was called for a foul. Humphrey again sank both free throws, and the lead was back to 78-74. The Chargers raced down the floor and eventually scored, but they had apparently used too much time. There were less than five seconds left, and Danville didn’t need to put the ball back in play. In the immortal words of ESPN’s Lee Corso, “Not so fast, my friend!” North Montgomery managed to commit a floor violation that resulted in a referee’s whistle and a warning. I said a warning, not a penalty. The whistle stopped the clock with 2.2 seconds remaining, and Danville was forced to at least inbound the ball safely to salt away the win. Inexplicably, the Warriors threw the inbound pass … out of bounds! It was now North Montgomery’s ball underneath its own basket with 2.2 seconds to play. To make matters worse for Danville, the Chargers now possessed the two tallest players on the court. Surprisingly, the Chargers chose to lob the entry pass beyond the arc to junior standout D.J. Byrd, whose fall-away three at the buzzer bounced harmlessly off the iron. Byrd’s miss ruined what had been an outstanding second half for the Purdue commit, who had netted 17 points in the final two quarters and ended the night with 24. The miss is all that prevented North Montgomery from completing one of the great comebacks in sectional tourney history. Danville was led by Cooper’s 27 points. The Warriors advance to face Western Boone in the championship game Saturday night. Western Boone (17-5) won the night’s opening game over an upset-minded Lebanon squad, 63-48, in a game that was closer than the final score indicates. The Stars led by only one at halftime but seized control with a 25-point third period that found them leading 49-37 entering the fourth. Lebanon (4-18) mounted one last charge with a volley of 3-point baskets but was unable to close the gap to less than six. Eventually, Western Boone pulled away for the final margin. Lebanon center Evan Acton ended his career with a marvelous game, keeping the Tigers close most of the way. The Stars, meanwhile, were led by the 16 points of guard Aaron Vaughn. Hit the high-tech hardwood by sharing your thoughts on our Boys Basketball message board.