Thurman's 3-pointer rims out as Crusaders fall in OT

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BY CHUCK VANDENBERG
PCC EDITOR

FORT MADISON - A 35-second dribble delay strategy almost backfired on Danville head coach Matt Morris as his Bears held a 1-point lead with just a minute to go in overtime Tuesday at Shottenkirk Gym.

With the Crusaders chasing the ball all over the floor, Danville's Cam Edle was fouled by Holy Trinity Catholic's Quentin Schneider before sinking two free throws with :19 left for a 55-52 Danville win.

Holy Trinity brought the ball up against mild pressure from Danville and was able to work the ball over to Jason Thurman for a 3-point attempt from the left baseline that was literally in the hoop before spinning out with less than a second left.

The Crusaders wiped out a seven point deficit with about five minutes left in the game down 35-42.

Senior Blake Crabtree would score on a break-away layup to start a 7-0 run. Schneider would score on the next possession and get fouled on the play to cut the lead to 2. After a defensive stop, senior Matt Hellige would score inside to tie the game at 42.

Holy Trinity Catholic's Quentin Schneider (3) goes into heavy traffic as three Danville Bears collapse in the lane on defense. Schneider finished with 13 points on the night for HTC. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC

Danville's Sawyer Nelson would convert and Morris would call a timeout. The Bears would get a stop and then Ty Carr would score at the other end for a four-point lead.

At the other end Crabtree would score on a nifty reverse layup from the right side. The Crusaders would force a turnover and Thurman would convert a couple free throws to knot it up at 46 with 30 seconds left prompting HTC head coach John Hellige to call a timeout.

Schneider would foul Carr in the Bears' next possession and Carr, who finished the night 9-of-9 from the free throw line, calmly sank two with 10 seconds in regulation to put the Bears up by two.

After another Holy Trinity time out the Crusaders brought the ball up and Schneider drove the lane throwing up a shot that clicked off the front rim. Vasin Thurman grabbed the carom and threw it back up, but it rolled off the left side, where Schneider tipped it just before the buzzer to force overtime.

"I told the boys after the game that when you play good teams it typically will come down to one possession," Hellige said.

"If any of those plays swing differently, a couple missed free throws, or a couple made free throws - we've got a different outcome."

Danville had to make some adjustments in the second half to contain Jason and Vasin Thurman, who combined for 24 of the Crusaders' 28 first-half points.

Vasin Thurman brought the Crusaders out of a first quarter turnover funk to score six straight inside to give HTC an early 9-3 lead. Both teams combined for nine turnovers off the opening tip before either team found the basket.

Senior Blake Crabtree (23) drives the right baseline against Danville's Taylor Kenseth, in the first half of Tuesday's loss at home. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC

Thurman would put up eight in the first period and twin Jason Thurman would can a 3-pointer with :03 left in the half to give HTC a 28-24 lead going into the lockerroom.

Vasin was held scoreless in the second half as Danville moved to a 1-3-1 matchup zone and blanked Thurman at the free throw line. Jason Thurman converted 3-of-4 free throws for his only second half points.

"They really came out and played well," Hellige said.

"We went to Vasin off the bench. Those two really play well together and they both have solid basketball IQ."

Hellige said the adjustments Danville made in the second half made it difficult to get the ball movement he was looking for.

"They covered up that high post really well. Danville you can always count on to play a high energy game," Hellige said.

"They have always been well-coached and they made the adjustment and we had a little trouble getting good ball reversals."

Carr led all scorers with 19 points on the night. For Holy Trinity, Vasin Thurman had 14, Jason Thurman and Schneider each had 13. Crabtree had six points, Matt Hellige had four, and Chandler Rung added a bucket.

The Crusaders (0-1) play host to Highland on Thursday in a boys/girls varsity double header.

athletics, basketball, boys basketball, Danville, fort madison, high school, Holy Trinity Catholic, htc, HTC Crusaders, Pen City Current, scores, sports

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