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BASKETBALL: #204 Tigers are State Champions in Class S

Posted February 14, 2011 10:00 pm

Doug Daniels

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Storming back from an early 8-0 deficit, Pinckneyville District #204 knocked off Century 40-37 on Saturday to win the SIJHSAA Class S State Championship, the first for the Tigers since 1981.

"I told the kids to start the season I thought the only team that could beat the Tigers was the Tigers," said Pinckneyville District #204 head coach Dennis Ginn, a player on that Tigers team that won it all thirty years ago.

"We lost a couple games this year," he continued, "and I'm not taking anything away from the teams we played, they played great in those games, but we didn't. It seemed like right before the regionals, we really got focused and started playing our ball, and this is the result."

Pinckneyville's Brian Taylor scored 21 of his team's 40 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and along with Layton McNew hit key free throws for the Tigers in the closing minutes to help #204 stay in front after center Caleb Dahn had fouled out late in the game.

"It felt really good, especially when we started hitting our free throws," Taylor said. "We had help with Layton McNew, and everybody else on the team, we just checked out and did a really good job."

Things looked grim at the start of the game for the Tigers, as Century fed Davarae Edmonds inside for two easy buckets on their way to an 8-0 lead to start the game.

Taylor penetrated and pulled up for two just before the first quarter ended, then Chris Mitchell had a rebound and put-back early in the second as the Tigers began to claw their way back.

Taylor drove for two with 5:45 to go in the half, then grabbed a rebound and took it coast-to-coast for a lay-up before Dahn's turnaround tied the game with 4:00 on the second quarter game clock.

"We played these guys last year in the first round (of the state tournament), and it was about 17-0 and we didn't even score in the first quarter, we were very tentative against this team," Ginn said.

"I just told them to relax and play and they finally loosened up. That's what I told them at halftime, I said guys, after we spotted them 8-0, we out-scored them 12-5 the rest of the way."

The Centurions led by one at the break, but just long enough for Dahn to find Taylor for an easy two just twenty seconds into the second half as the Tigers took their first lead. Dahn added a breakaway lay-up on a long pass from McNew, then McNew completed the 6-0 run to start the half with another fast break bucket.

Dahn got into a bit of foul trouble at the 5:29 mark of the period with his third personal, but stayed in the game and buried a three to put #204 up 23-19.

Jaceb Jackson added another triple from the top of the circle and the Tigers led by 7, but Century refused to go away and had cut the lead to 28-25 at the end of three.

The lead changed hands three times early in the final frame, but with 2:50 to go the Tigers would jump on top for good.

Taylor saved a loose ball from falling out of bounds and fired a long pass down the court to Dahn, who chased it down for an easy two and a 36-35 Pinckneyville lead.

Taylor hit a pair of free throws with 2:24 to go to extend the lead to three points, but Dahn picked up his fifth foul with 55 seconds to play and Century in possession of the basketball.

Jeff Wright was fouled and made both free throws with 45 seconds left, then the Centurions regained possession with 9.7 seconds left after a Tigers' turnover.

Edmonds got a look, but his shot was off and McNew ended up with the ball, was fouled, then stressed through a timeout before knocking down both shots with 1.7 on the clock. Century's desperation attempt at a tie that followed was well off the mark, and the Tigers (26-2) began their celebration.

McNew reflected on the situation after the game, admitting he was "nervous."

"At first (Coach Ginn) told me if I make the first one, miss the second one and get back on defense," McNew said. "Then he decided just knock them both down."

"It's the best feeling ever."

Dahn, who led #204 with 9 rebounds in the game, admitted his assignment in the post (Edmonds) was a difficult one, but wasn't worried after fouling out late in the contest.

"(Edmonds) is a load, he's tough," said Dahn, nicknamed "Lieutenant Dahn" by his teammates and coaches. "I'm proud of the team, it feels great. I knew they would (hang on), I have faith in my team."

Taylor was the only Tiger in double figures, Dahn added 9 points, McNew 4, Jackson 3 and Mitchell and Sam Simpson each finished with 2. McNew led the team in assists with 3. Also seeing action on Saturday for #204 was Austin Kreger.

Rounding out the roster for the state champion Tigers are Dylan Lee, Dustin Engelhardt, Brandon Zelasko, Hayden Carter, Grayson Buza, Hayden Swain, Alex Howard and Cory Dahn. Assisting Coach Ginn this season were Josh Plumlee and Scott Kreger.

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