Design Note: Please use Payne's 3-pt shot as lead photo
A put-back basket a fraction of a second late ended Danville’s basketball season at the boys Division IV Central District semifinal at Johnstown-Monroe High School, Mar. 2.
In a game that featured scoring runs, scoring table issues, a smothering trapping defense and a shot a hair after the buzzer sounded, the Blue Devils came out on the short end of a 53-52 loss at the hands of the Grove City Christian Eagles.
Eighth-seeded Danville (12-12), who was 4-8 in the KMAC, faced fifth-seeded Grove City Christian (13-10) following a 53-51 Blue Devils win over fourth-seeded Columbus Tree of Life Christian. The Eagles got to the semis by handily besting Millersport 63-50. It was the Eagles’ third win over the Lakers this season; both teams play in the Cardinal Division of Mid-State League.
Danville started the game in a hole – coach’s error. A player number error in the scorebook before the tip put the Blue Devils behind 2-0 after Grove City’s Caleb Ransom hit both foul shots.
“We started the game with a technical foul, and that was my fault,” Danville coach Matt Moore said.
Grove City Christian, playing up-tempo style and penetrating the lane, jumped out to a 10-0 lead and stretched it to a 16-3 midway through the first quarter.
Danville went to work and went on a 15-to-1 run to take an 18-17 lead at the 5:45 mark of the second quarter.
The two teams traded buckets until Grove City Christian’s Jadunn Harris hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Eagles a 28-25 halftime lead. Max Payne rainbowed in a pair of treys and Spencer Payne scored seven in the second.
After opening the second half on an 11-2 run, Danville looked to be in control and ended the third ahead 40-36. In the fourth, the Blue Devils added to their lead and were up 45-38 with 5:38 remaining in the game.
Following a timeout, the Eagles came out in a full-court trapping man-to-man defense, which forced three Danville turnovers, resulting in seven Grove City Christian points.
In the final seconds, following a potentially game-winning shot by KMAC all-league first team selection Walker Weckesser, who had hit three buckets and a free throw in the quarter, Spencer Payne grabbed a rebound and banked the shot in; however, it was deemed that the basket came after the final horn sounded.
“We got off to a slower start than we wanted, and they went on a nice run to start the game," Moore said. “The kids bounced back from that start they played extremely hard.”
It was another close loss for the Blue Devils, who were on an impressive late-season run, winning 10 of their last 15 games, entering the district semifinal.
“We had a lot of close games. We lost at the buzzer to Northmor and we lost to Fredericktown in a close game and we lost to Northmor in another close game,” Moore said.
“We just had to get over that hump, and when we got over that hump, things just started clicking for us. The kids have bought in and worked hard. We’re finishing off the season well. The kids figured out how to win,” Moore said.
Grove City Christian pushed the ball up the floor and slashed against the Blue Devils to the basket. Ransom was particularly effective for the Eagles, scoring 25 points.
The Eagles have no seniors on the roster and only two juniors.
“They’re young,” Moore said. “They shoot the ball pretty well, and they drive the middle of the lane.”
In addition to Ransom, Brayden Taylor scored 10 points, and Harris added seven points for the Eagles.
Six Danville players contributed on the score sheet. Weckesser led the Blue Devils' offensive assault with 14 points, Spencer Payne scored 11 points, Max Payne added 10 points and Darren Mickley rounded out the top scorers with eight points.
“Great game,” Moore said. “Our kids played well, we executed our game plan, and they made one more shot than we did. That’s what matters.”
Grove City Christian will move on to play East Knox today in the final at Capital City University.
