Web exclusive: Foul shots key win

Editor’s note: Over the last few months, we have run brief looks back at the 2005-06 season that the Jay County High School boys basketball team capped with a run to the Class 3A state championship game. Those culminated with a recap of the sectional final last week. In this web exclusive, we're reprinting the March 13, 2006, story about the team's regional semifinal win.

HARTFORD CITY — The Patriots took advantage of their home-away-from-home-court advantage.
In front of a raucous morning crowd at nearby Blackford, Jay County’s boys basketball players shot free throws as if in their own back yards in their regional semifinal game Saturday. They buried 28 of 32, scoring their final 18 points from the line as they sent the Tippecanoe Valley Vikings home with a 63-57 victory.
Zac Green, who led the effort by hitting all of his 11 attempts from the foul line, said he’d be happy shooting free throws all day if necessary.
“If we need to, that’d be great,” said Green, who led the Patriots with 17 points and seven rebounds. “We just seem to come through when we need to usually, especially during tournament time so far. It’s great.”
Senior Tyler Rigby added a 6-of-6 effort from the line as he finished with 12 points, and Scott “Scooter” Bruggeman added a 9-for-11 mark and scored 11 points.
“That was awesome,” said Rigby. “We had a lot of momentum because of our fans. They were awesome. It really gets us pumped up.
“(Foul shooting has) been a struggle all year, but people stepped up and knocked down big free throws.”
Also advancing to the regional finale were the defending champion No. 6 Wawasee Warriors, who knocked off Fort Wayne Concordia 62-55 in overtime.
Jay County (18-6) never trailed in the second half, although Tippecanoe Valley (19-5) kept coming close. On three different occasions — 41-39, 43-41 and 45-43 — the Vikings were within a pair, but failed on each of their three possessions when they had a chance to tie or take the lead.
The Patriots followed with a 10-2 run, capped when Chad Hoffer fouled out, then was called for a technical foul. Rigby hit both shots from the technical, then hit two more after behind fouled on the ensuing possession for a 55-45 Jay County lead.
The lead bumped up to 11 points at 59-48 with 1:03 to go and Tippecanoe Valley fouled to drag out the final minute. It nearly worked as some ill-advised Patriot fouls helped the Vikings get to within four with 23 seconds left, but that was as much magic as they could muster.
“It’s pretty tough,” said Tippecanoe Valley coach Bill Patrick of the late comeback try. “The kids didn’t quit anyway. They battled to the end. That’s a positive.
“We really didn’t want to get behind, that’s where we got in trouble. You get behind against a team that handles the ball that well and they’re really patient on offense and they don’t turn the ball over it’s tough to (come back).”
Patrick also expressed displeasure with the officiating as his team shot 15 free throws, making 11, compared to Jay County’s 32. But the Patriots held just an 11-10 advantage on foul shots before going to the line 21 times in the final 4:18 of the game.
The game played out much like Jay County’s sectional win over Mississinewa a week earlier. The Patriots grabbed the lead for good in the midst of a 9-0, second-quarter run when Corey Comer scored on an assist from Scott Bruggeman. They were up 27-21 at the half — they outscored Tippecanoe Valley 14-5 in the second quarter — and fought off every Viking attack after the break.
“They keep their composure,” said JCHS coach Craig Teagle. “They’ve been through a lot of wars, a lot of battles together. ...
“I think it’s just been a characteristic of this team all year. They’re just a great team. They play together.
“Once we get the lead, if we can hit free throws, we’re going to be a hard team to beat.”
Following the Patriots’ free-throw shooting stars who scored in double figures were Corey Comer with eight points and Clint Muhlenkamp with seven. Muhlenkamp and John Retter each grabbed five rebounds, and Bruggeman had five assists.
David Lash powered Tippecanoe Valley, which lost in the regional semis for the second straight season, with 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Bryce Kelley added 16 points, but 6-foot-6-inch center Shane Drudge was limited to just seven points on 2-of-7 shooting and no rebounds.