PORTER TOWNSHIP, IN (12-23-2004) - If Hebron plays like they did in the first half of Thursday night's South County Tournament championship game, they can beat Boone Grove at least once this year.

But if Boone Grove can play like they did in the fourth quarter, they will win the Porter County Conference (PCC).

Everybody got a little something to take home for Christmas out of the final game of the 68^th annual county holiday tournament but Boone got more little 'somethings,' including a 51-39 win.

The Wolves (5-1) won the four-team South County playoff, the traditional Porter County holiday tournament, and they also got the 'keg', the PCC's traveling trophy, which Hebron had taken possession of early in the month when the Hawks had defeated Morgan Township.

I told the kids before they started,” said Boone coach Matt McKay, “that if they win this game tonight, then everybody who had ever played varsity for me in 11 years would have won some type of championship.”

This was a title that Boone Grove figured to win. Even with Kouts undefeated entering South County play and arch-rival Hebron showing up strong in the finals, you felt all along Boone would pull this one out on their home floor.

“We haven't won this tournament that much,” said McKay. “Something always happens.”

That 'something' appeared to be happening through three quarters as Hebron contained PCC scoring leader Danny Borys and held the home team to a 31-31 tie through 24 minutes.

Leading 37-35, Hebron's shifting zone defense took a chance and backed off senior guard Joe Faron, who fired in a 20-foot three-point shot off the left wing for his only basket of the game and a 38-37 Wolves' lead.

Hebron's Eric Luchene was called for an offensive foul before a Boone possession where Borys followed in the second of two missed shots to make it 40-37 with 3:26 to go.

After a time out and a missed Hebron shot, Boone's Jon Shurr flipped a nice entry pass down the baseline to Borys for a layup and a 42-37 lead. Faron hit two free throws with 1:24 to go and Boone broke Hebron's full court press for layups by Kyle Krol and Will Mitchell and the game was out of reach at 48-37.

“We just tried to keep the ball away from him (Borys) as much as we could,” said Hebron coach Mike DeFries. “For 3 ½ quarters we stayed right with them.”

“Its the first of three meetings with them (in the PCC tournament and in a regular season meeting on Feb. 15) hopefully. I don't know if anyone else in the conference can beat them.”

This game saw both sides tone down the other's No.1 offensive threat. Hebron held Borys, who averages 21 points per game, to only eight points over three quarters. The Wolves, especially Faron, a 6-1 senior, controlled the offense of 5-9 junior Caleb Biggs (15.2 pg.), the PCC's top long range shooter. Biggs was scoreless at halftime and finished with just five points.

“You have to stay close to him,” said McKay later. “You can't let him get started. They actually made a run in the first half with Caleb on the bench. I think that was because we keyed so much on him.”

Even though the game was close, it was Boone's game. The taller Wolves want to keep the pace slow to utilize their size. In half court situations, Borys can shoot over taller foes or post up smaller forwards. Junior Will Mitchell, a 6-3 guard/forward, collected nine points, three blocked shots and three rebounds in the second half alone. If Borys and Mitchell can create mismatches in half court situations, Boone can go a long way. Mitchell (7.1 ppg.) had his best two game stretch of the year with back-to-back 12 point games.

“We haven't been healthy,” said McKay, of Mitchell. “and he's been sick. Last night was the best game he'd had. Once we got single coverage on the post, we could go inside. They have to start coming out to get you. That's when we get some good looks.”

Hebron goes away thinking they could win a rematch. There were moments Wednesday night where they spread Boone's defense and successfully attacked the basket on dribble drives. But taller teams often leave smaller squads with the feeling that they could have won.

Borys liked the fact that one win got Boone not only the 68^th South County trophy but hands on possession of the keg, the PCC's traveling trophy that goes to league teams that win head-to-head matchups. “That's great,” he said, “But we've got to take those nasty colors off it. That red and white (Hebron's colors) has to go.”

SOUTH COUNTY NOTES: Next year's South County Tournament is scheduled to be played in Hebron.

“We are supposed to be in the new gym in October,” said Hawk coach Mike DeFries, referring to Hebron's new $29 million dollar school building that is already under construction. “We got the sectional, too. For two years. That's big. I don't know how much of a home court advantage we'll have next year though because the gym will be new to us, too.”

Hebron guard Drew Gericke led the Hawks with 13 points, six rebounds and two assists. But 6-4 Ryan Marshall scored just six points and 6-6 Mike Yankauskas, still a project in his first year on the varsity, did not score.

“They're still young in playing time,” said DeFries. “They were both on the JV last year.”

This was not one of the best attended South County Tournament final days. The 2,000-seat Boone Grove gym was about half full for the championship game. Last year's Boone-Morgan Township final was sold out in the 1,500-seat Morgan gym.”

Boone Grove's season-opening 61-48 loss at Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) leader Valparaiso doesn't look so bad for the Wolves right now with Valpo at 7-0 on the season.

“And we could have beaten them,” senior forward Danny Borys said. “I thought we outplayed them after the first quarter. In the second half we cut the lead down to four.”

Boone has come closest to beating Valparaiso of any of their seven foes. 

“That makes me feel good,” says Borys. “We could have won that one, too. We had more rebounds, more steals less turnovers, better free throw percentage. More threes. They just had more two-point baskets.”

“We've got guys on the bench who contribute because they work us hard in practice,” said Borys. “If they don't push us hard in practice we can't get our work. They are a big part of the team.”

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BOONE GROVE (5-1)

Coach: Matt McKay, 172-104 in 13th year at school

DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT / TIME	OTHER INFO
Nov. 24	at Valparaiso {4A}	L   48-  61
Dec. 3	Washington Twp. {1A}‡	W   59-  42
Dec. 10	River Forest {1A}	W   71-  20
Dec. 17	at LaCrosse {1A}‡	W   49-  34
Dec. 22	Kouts {1A}	W   56-  47	tournament
Dec. 23	Hebron {1A}	W   51-  39	tournament
Jan. 7	at Hanover Central {2A}‡	7:30 pm
Jan. 8	Wheeler {2A}	7:30 pm
Jan. 14	at South Central (Union Mills) {1A}‡	7:30 pm
Jan. 15	at Portage {4A}	7:30 pm
Jan. 19	Porter County Conference Tournament		through Jan. 22
Jan. 28	Kouts {1A}‡	7:30 pm
Jan. 29	Merrillville {4A}	7:30 pm
Feb. 4	at Morgan Twp. {1A}‡	7:30 pm
Feb. 5	at North Judson {2A}	6:30 pm
Feb. 15	Hebron {1A}‡	7:00 pm
Feb. 18	at Kankakee Valley {3A}	7:30 pm
Feb. 22	Chesterton {4A}	7:00 pm
Feb. 25	Calumet {3A}	7:30 pm
‡PORTER COUNTY CONFERENCE GAME

HEBRON (3-5)

Coach: Mike DeFries, 63-71 in 7th year at school

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Revised: December 28, 2004 .