Posted on 03 March 2010 by .
FRANKFORT — It was difficult for Twin Lakes senior Niall Breedlove
to find solace with Tuesday night’s sectional-opening loss to Western,
but he was able to after a deep sigh.
Less
than a month ago, the Panthers handed Twin Lakes its worst loss of the
season, winning by 29. The Indians proved much better but ultimately
fell 72-63 in double overtime at Case Arena.
“Our
first game (against Western) wasn’t our best effort, not even close,”
Breedlove said. “This game was almost more than what we could expect to
offer. We played a really good game all around.
“They were more athletic; they had everything going our way.”
The
Indians led 38-34 entering the fourth quarter, fell behind by six
points with a minute left, and watched Drake Danford’s potential
game-winning halfcourt shot at the end of the fourth roll off the front
of the rim.
Western
advances to play West Lafayette on Friday. Frankfort will play
Northwestern after ending Benton Central’s season 67-52 in Tuesday’s
second contest.
The fourth quarter was a whirlwind of emotion that included Breedlove’s spectacular eight minutes.
Breedlove,
who averaged 7.8 points in the regular season, scored nine in the
fourth period and calmly sank 3-pointers to cut Western’s lead to three
with 41 seconds left and another to tie the game just over 10 seconds
left.
“I didn’t
really see an opening (on the final fourth quarter shot); I just kind
of threw it up,” said Breedlove, who finished with 24 points on 7 of 12
shooting. “I was just hoping it was going in because there wasn’t much
time on the clock and we would have needed another shot if it didn’t.
“Momentum
shifted our way totally. The whole game was emotional. The halfcourter
almost went in. There would have been a lot of celebrating.”
After
Breedlove’s 3 tied the game at 52, Western’s Matt Reida missed a
jumper. Tyler McAchren grabbed the rebound and got the ball to Danford,
who just missed from halfcourt.
Each of Twin Lakes’ seniors finished their career with highlight moments.
Outsized
in the paint, Kendal Glotzbach grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
McAchren was scoreless at halftime but finished with 11 points and
seven rebounds, including a one-handed floater off the glass to force a
second overtime.
“Niall, Tyler and Kendal, their leadership this season has just been
outstanding,” coach Kent Adams said. “We are not the most talented
group, but they play hard and hustle and just get by on sheer
willpower.”
After
McAchren’s floater, Reida again missed a potential game-winning jumper
from 12 feet and Jamal Johnson’s tip failed to find the basket.
A second overtime proved to be too much for the Indians (9-13), who were outscored 11-2 in the final four minutes.
“I
really applaud our kids’ effort,” Adams said. “Obviously we were
outmanned. We just came up short, but nothing to be ashamed of.”
Frankfort had little trouble disposing of the Bison.
Troy
Porter scored 18 points in the game’s first nine minutes and finished
with 30 points in 23 minutes. It was his sixth 30-plus point game this
season.
“My first shot went in and I knew I was going to hit some tonight,” said Porter, who made 6 of 9 3-pointers.
Aaron Kult scored 23 points for the Bison (3-18) and made 5 of 9 3-pointers. Jordan Johnson added 14.
Tanner Svoboda contributed 15 points for the Hot Dogs.
*Taken from The Lafayette Journal and Courier Online
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