Friday, Jan. 18, 2008

Colerain Edges Lakota East

Cardinals win on final minute

By Bret Sims

Colerain only led for 1:15 throughout the entire game in their win over Greater Miami Conference foe Lakota East but it was the last 1:15 of the fourth quarter when it mattered the most.

The Cardinals (8-6, 3-6 GMC) handed the Thunderhawks (2-12, 1-8) their ninth consecutive loss of the season in a game that the East led for almost the entire game before falling 49-42.

Ian Gordon was the difference maker for Colerain as he scored 11 of his game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter.  Gordon seemed to grab every offensive rebound and the only way East could stop him was foul him but that only delayed his scoring as he dropped in five from the charity stripe.

Daniel Lyons, East’s leading scorer, was in foul trouble all night and spent most of the game on the bench.  When he returned to the game at the 7:17 mark of the fourth quarter he lasted less than three minutes before picking up his fifth foul.  With Lyons out of the game the Cardinals picked up the intensity on their man-to-man defense.

“I knew we had to have our best athletes on the court and play man to man if we were going to have any chance of winning the game," said Colerain coach Kevin Huggins.  "We played zone early in the game but East took advantage and hit some open shots.  I challenged my team to step it up the final eight minutes and they did.”

East’s offense stalled and appeared rattled as they turned the ball over on consecutive trips down the court that led to Colerain points at the other end.

Trailing 43-42 with 1:15 to play, the Cardinals held the Thunderhawks scoreless the rest of the game.

“We were out rebounded, out shot and turned the ball over when we needed to play under control and play smart," said Lakota East coach Wally Vickers.