Wednesday, February 1, 2012

JOURNAL-TRIBUNE, Marysville, Ohio

Basketball is a game of the bottom line and for the first time this season, that line did not favor the boys squad from Jonathan Alder.

The Pioneers went into Tuesday's game at Dublin Scioto with a sparkling 13-0 record and the No. 2 ranking in the state's Associated Press Division II poll.

When the bottom line, however, reveals a team which shoots slightly less than 27 percent from the field, the outcome is not going to be good. As a result of a shooting night that was colder than any weather we've experienced this winter, the Pioneers dropped a 58-37 decision to the Irish. "Give Scioto a lot of credit," said JA coach Brent Cahill. "Their defense did a great job of shutting down the driving lanes and then we just couldn't shoot from the outside. We knew we' have to make those shots but we didn't." Scioto's defenders stuck to their Pioneer counterparts like glue as JA got very few opportunities from close range.

When Alder fired the pumpkin up from the perimeter, the result was a frigid 14-of-52 (26.9percent), including just two trifectas in 19 tries. It was the exact opposite at the other end of the court. The Irish (9-6) hit more than half of their shots (20-of-39) and sank seven-for-18 from beyond the arc. The Pioneers faced an uphill battle from the opening tipoff, including a number of calls from the guys in the stripes of which folks from the JA Nation weren't in complete agreement. Senior Eric Roby picked up two charging fouls on consecutive drives to the basket and was forced to sit for most of the first half. "I thought we defended Scioto well while Eric was out but again, we just couldn't execute offensively," said Cahill. A baseline move by Ryan Duncan resulted in the Scioto cager being sent to the free throw line where his charity shots pushed the Irish out to a 9-3 lead. Nate Squires scored in transition on a steal and added a pair of free throws as Alder reduced its deficit to 11-7. Antonio Bisutti dribbled around a screen for a jumper that gave Scioto a six-point lead. A steal by Tyler Parker led to Max Pollom's tickback at the buzzer that pulled JA to within 13-9.

Alder remained within striking distance midway through the second stanza when Alex Randall's three-pointer closed the visitors' gap to 18-14. Scioto scored six quick points for a 24-14 advantage and later went on top 28-16 after Travis Wehder sank both ends of the one-and-one. Roby, who had returned to action, drained a three-pointer but Duncan returned the favor, sending the Irish into the turn with a 31-19 lead. The Pioneers, who have averaged in the neighborhood of 60 points per game this season, saw their offensive woes continue during the third frame. Roby and Nick Squires made the only field goals of the quarter, while the Irish continued to kill the Pioneers with their red-hot shooting. The home team took a 41-26 advantage into the final eight minutes of action. Roby snared an alley-oop pass for a basket that pulled JA to within 41-30 early in the last quarter but that's as close as it would get the rest of the way.

We just couldn't get anything going to break Scioto's momentum and that's 100 percent my fault, said Cahill. "There is one good thing about tonight ... we're right back into playing Wednesday at North Union and we welcome that. We want to put this game behind us."

Bisutti 7-2-18, Duncan 5-4-16, Ashwill 4-0-11, McGlone 2-1-5, Yates 2-0-4, Wehder 0-2-2, Madison 0-1-1, Strausbaugh 0-1-1, Anderson 0-0-0, Sult 0-0-0. Totals 20-11-58.

Roby 5-1-12, Na. Squires 2-4-9, Parker 2-1-5, Randall 2-1-4, Ni. Squires 2-0-4, Pollom 1-1-3, Koenig 0-0-0, Snively 0-0-0, Yoder 0-0-0, Dickey 0-0-0. Totals 14-7-37.

Three-point goals: Roby 1, Randall 1.

Alder's freshman team evened its record at 7-7 when Roby Wholaver hit a last-second three- pointer to win the game 43-42. Luke Nees led the frosh with 12 points.

The JA junior varsity slipped to 6-8 with a 46-17 loss. John Jewett scored six points.

Jonathan Alders Nick Squires is fouled going up for a shot at Dublin Scioto Tuesday evening. The Pioneers, the No. 2-ranked team in the state Division II poll, suffered their first loss of the season 58-37.