Lowell Lady Devils take Highland to double overtime before falling 54-43 in sectional championship

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith
02-10-2007

Saturday, February 10, 2007 - Class 4A Sectional 1 Championship at East Chicago

LOWELL (43)  Kara Lamb 3-0-6, Kim Bell 2-2-6, Kelly Johnson 3-9-17,  Gabi Goetz 2-0-4, Jessica Schiessle 0-2-2, Kasey Manis 1-6-8, Mallory Pratt 0-0-0.  TOTALS:  11 (19-25) 43.

HIGHLAND (53)  Lizzie Stapke 5-2-16, Ashley Schassburger 4-7-17,  Brooke Jones 2-1-5, Jordan Bedella 2-5-9, Martha Bush 1-0-2, Brittany Adler 1-0-3, Val Theobold 0-1-1. Brianna Kikilos 0-0-0.  TOTALS:  15 (16-25) 53.

FREE THROWS:  LOWELL (19-25, 76%) Lamb 0-5, Bell 2-2, Johnson 9-10, Schiessle 2-2, Manis 6-6.  HIGHLAND (16-27, 59.5%) Schassburger 7-11, Stapke 2-2, Jones 1-2, Bedella 5-8, Theobold 1-2, Bush 0-2.

REBOUNDS:  LOWELL (25) Goetz 7, Bell 6, Johnson 5, Manis 4, Schiessle 3,  HIGHLAND  (21) Schassburger 9,  Stapke 5, Jones 2, Theobold 2, Adler, Bedella, Bush.

STEALS:  LOWELL (13) Lamb 4, Johnson 3, Manis 2, Bell, Schiessle 2, Goetz;  HIGHALND (13) Theobold 4, Stapke 3, Schaasburger 3, Bedella 2, Bush.

ASSISTS:  LOWELL (5) Bell 2, Lamb Johnson 2;  HIGHLAND (8) Stapke 4,  Schassburger 3, Adler.

3-GOALS:  LOWELL (2) Kelly Johnson 2;   HGHLAND (7) Lizzie Stapke 4, Ashley Schassburger 2, Brittany Adler.

FOULED OUT:  Kara Lamb (LOWELL) 0:43 - 4th Q.

 

LOWELL (35)  Kara Lamb 0-0-0, Kim Bell 4-0-8, Kelly Johnson 2-0-4, Gabi Goetz 2-4-8, Jessica Schiessle 0-0-0, Kasey Manis 1-0-2, Mallory Pratt 3-0-6, Katie Haberlin 2-0-4, Megan Bolanowski 1-1-3, Gretchen Barker 0-0-0, Erin Gavelek 0-0-0, Katelyn Utley 0-0-0.  TOTALS:  15 (5-9) 35.

EAST CHICAGO (19)  Arielle Mabon 1-1-3, Breanna Haggard 1-0-2, Jessica Pabey 2-0-5, Britney Washington 3-0-7, Darlinda Wright 1-0-2, Taaja'e McKinley 0-0-0, Latrice Evans 0-0-0, Melissa Montemayor 0-0-0.  TOTALS: 8 (1-4) 19.

FREE THROWS:  LOWELL (5-9, 55.5%) Goetz 4-8, Bolanowski 1-1;    TOTALS:  EAST CHICAGO  (1-4, 25%) Mabon 1-3, Haggard 0-1.

3-GOALS:  LOWELL (0) EAST CHICAGO (1) Jessica Pabey.

FOULED OUT:  None.

4A Sectional ONE (1) Playoffs
2/6:    Highland 56, Lake Central 51
2/6:    Gary West Side 51, Munster 47
2/9:    Highland 58, Gary West Side 42
2/9:    LOWELL 35, East Chicago 19
2/10:  Highland 53, LOWELL 43 (2 OTs)

CLASS 4A  at  VALPARAISO
2/17 (S) Highland [20-5] vs. Portage [15-8]
2/17 (S) South Bend Washington [24-1] vs. Elkhart Memorial [19-5]

Class 4A at HUNTINGTON NORTH
2/17 (S) Anderson [22-2] vs. Carroll (Fort Wayne) [15-9]
2/17 (S) Fort Wayne South [22-1] vs. Logansport [16-7]

Class 4A at SOUTHPORT
2/17 (S) Ben Davis [18-4] vs. Center Grove [17-6]
2/17 (S) Hamilton Southeastern [24-0] vs. Lawrence North [21-4]

Class 4A at BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE
2/17 (S) Columbus East [21-2] vs. Castle [19-4]
2/17 (S) Jeffersonville [20-3] vs. Terre Haute North [11-11]

EAST CHICAGO (2-10-2007) - Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.  Lowell did Highland a big favor late Saturday night, although it may be awhile before they realize it.  The Red Devils made what appeared to be a lopsided bracket sectional title match between league rivals into a game the Trojans will remember all their lives.

"They'll never forget it," said Highland coach Mike Urban.

Neither will anyone in the small crowd that braved single digit mid-February temperatures to watch what appeared to be a foregone conclusion between Lowell, which won four games all season and Highland, which had won 13 in a row.  When the two hour classic had ended, both sides were in tears.  Highland had won its first sectional title in five years and Lowell had proven that, down deep inside what looked like a losing team for 20 games was a quality basketball team.

The Lake Athletic Conference (LAC) last place Devils led LAC first place finisher Highland 43-40 with 35 seconds left in the first overtime before a 'garbage' basket' by Highland's Ashley Schassburger and a crucial foul by Lowell's Gabi Goetz tied the game and sent it to another overtime.  In the second four minute extra session, Highland (20-5), which defeated Lowell 44-33 in January, outscored the tiring Devils 10-0 and were soon celebrating in the center of the floor of EC's 8,000-seat Barrato Center.

Highland completed a week where they had beaten larger schools Lake Central and Gary West Side, but the Trojans hadn't played in a game like this where one more point would have ended their season.

"You've got to give Lowell credit," said Urban after his girls had survived a 53-43 double-overtime wrestling match with the Devils.  "I knew Patti (Lowell coach Patti McCormack) would have her girls ready to play.  They played a great game."

"I was sorry that the final score ended up to be 10 points just like the first time we played them," McCormack said.  "I was very proud of our girls.  It was a great game.  We played with a lot of heart.  We just needed one more shot to go in."

After 12 minutes it was 18-6 and even the hundred or so Highland students who showed up for the victory party had to wonder why they weren't someplace else.  But Lowell (5-16) just couldn't let it go.  The Red Devils' 5-10 sophomore guard Kasey Manis began to slip inside the Highland defenses and got fouled.  She was 6-of-6 from the line in the first and when Manis scored on a layup in the final minute of the first half, Lowell trailed just 20-16.

Highland began to miss shots over the Lowell zone and the Devils closed the gap, while the few Lowell 'friends of the program' who made the long trip slowly began to grasp how close their team was to just the third girls sectional title in 34 years.  Johnson, the all-state softball star who was playing with a bandage on her shoulder and a brace on her knee, moved much better than she had in the 35-19 semifinal win over East Chicago (2-19) Friday.  Johnson's three-point shot 20 seconds into the third period cut the lead to 20-19.  And even though Highland's Ashley Schassburger replied with a three-point basket, Johnson scored again on a driving layup and her two free throws tied the game at 23-23 with 2:48 to go in the third quarter.

As the game drifted late into the third quarter, Highland was playing without senior guard Mandy Moes due to foul trouble.  But that score was evened when Manis was called for a questionable offensive foul in the final five seconds of the third quarter with the Trojans leading 26-25.  Manis collided with Highland's Jordan Bedella and appeared to hurt her elbow.  She did not return to the game.  McCormack had to insert freshman Jessica Schiessle, who was in her first state tournament.  Schiessle was very good defensively but she is 10 inches shorter than Manis and was playing against desperate Highland juniors and seniors on offense.

Much was made in the Sunday papers of the loss of Highland starting guard Mandy Moes in Highland's 58-42 victory over Gary West Side the night before.  But losing the 5-foot-10 Manis probably cost Lowell the sectional title as she was having a strong game and the Devils didn't have any bench left as the game went deeper into overtime.

"We just didn't have anybody we could go to," said McCormack.  "Jessica was doing a great job out there.  She had a three (a three point attempt) that was down in the basket and popped out.  Highland was running in two girls every time you looked up."

Highland called on lead guard Lizzie Stapke early in the fourth quarter and the 5-8 junior hit back-to-back three-point shots that had the Highland students chanting her name as the Trojans led 34-29 with 5:16 to play.  But Schassburger missed a 1-and-1 free throw attempt with 4:58 left and Highland couldn't get the rebound when Schiessle barely missed a '3' with 4:06 left.  Johnson then sank another three-point shot with 3:19 left, and Kara Lamb hit a short jumper to cut the lead to 37-36 with 2:32 to go.

Two Lowell turnovers preceded a free throw by Highland forward Brooke Jones with 57 seconds to play.  But Johnson split the defense and was fouled moments later and her two free throws tied the game at 38.  Highland missed a game-winning shot and both teams turned the ball over in the final 15 seconds of regulation time.

Lowell should have won the game in the first overtime as Highland seemed on the verge of crumbling under the pressure.  Schiessle hit two free throws and Kim Bell scored on an offensive rebound to put Lowell ahead 42-38 with 2:10 left.  Schiessle missed a pass for a turnover, but Highland's Schassburger traveled.  The Trojans seemed doomed when Martha Bush was fouled and also missed two Highland free throws with 1:11 to go.

Highland's Jordan Bedella missed two free throws with 1:58 to play, but Lowell could not get the ball in play and was called for a five second violation with 1:04 to go.  Lamb tipped a three-point attempt by Highland's Stapke, but Jones grabbed it and scored to make it 42-40 with 45 seconds to go.  The Trojans fouled Johnson, who was 8-of-8 from the line to that point.  The Lowell senior missed her first foul shot, but hit the second to create the 43-40 lead with 35 seconds to go.

Highland called time out with 30 seconds to go and again, Lamb tipped Stapke's three-point attempt.  But again, Highland grabbed the rebound.  Schassburger grabbed the ball, and even though the Trojans were down by three points, she stepped to the basket and banked it in.  Unfortunately for Lowell, even though Highland was down by three points, Goetz, who had played a strong game, tried to blocked the shot and committed the foul that gave Highland a three-point play with 13 seconds left in the first overtime.

"The only thing we said during the time out was not to foul," said McCormack sadly afterwards. "That was the only thing we said."

Lowell fumbled away a final possession with eight seconds to go in the first overtime and that was the game.  In the second overtime, Schassburger's two free throws made it 45-43 with 3:21 left.  Johnson was called for a moving pick and Stapke scored on a driving layup.  Lamb missed two free throws and Schassburger sank two more foul shots to make it 49-43 with 1:10 left.  After going 8-of-17 over the first 36 minutes, Highland was 8-of-8 in the second overtime.

"We did everything we talked about not doing," said Urban after the game.  "You can talk to the girls (about not overlooking Lowell) but they have to play.  We knew they'd be tough. I'm just so happy for Mandy Moes.  As as senior, it hurt her not to play tonight.  I don't know if she can play next week.  This one was for her."

As the Lowell girls left the floor, they could not help but realize that they had just missed the chance of a lifetime, not to mention the chance for an upset that would rival even the school's memorable home court victory over 4th-ranked Gary West Side in 1999, probably Lowell's all-time greatest victory.  Eight years later, Lowell had ridden the roller coaster that is Indiana basketball to the top of the ride and again, if only for two hours, refused to get off when they were supposed to.  A guaranteed 64 teams win sectional titles every season.  Very few ever get to go where Lowell was late Saturday.  Staying on the ride when you're not supposed to be there is what it's all about.

"Everybody played well," McCormack said, sitting in the empty hallway outside the Lowell locker room.  "I don't know what else we could have done.  We just needed one more point."

SECTIONAL NOTES:  Highland's fan showing was much larger than Lowell's, but the Lowell boys basketball team showed up and exchanged chants with the Highland student section.  The subjects of football and farming did come up.

Highland (20-5), which has now won 14 consecutive games, goes on to face Portage (15-8), the team that won the 4A Portage Sectional championship with wins over Crown Point, Merrillville and Valparaiso.  Highland beat Portage 45-40 back on Nov. 18.

Lowell did not use 5-foot-7 forward Katie Haberlin for the first time all season.  She was not injured and she had not fallen out of favor with coach Patti McCormack.

"She just isn't quick enough against them," McCormack said later.  "And the lineup we had out there was playing very well.  I just didn't want to change it."

Lowell used forwards Kim Bell and Gabi Goetz with guards Kara Lamb, Kelly Johnson and Jessica Schiessle from the end of the third quarter until Lamb fouled out with 15 seconds remaining in the second overtime.

Highland was 31 of 36 from the foul line against Gary West Side in a 58-42 win and 16 of 25 against Lowell.  The Trojans made only 28 baskets in 72 minutes of play on the final two nights of the sectional.  Lowell has been eliminated at the sectional level in each of the last seven years, every time losing by 10 points or more.

When she was healthy, Lowell avoided using Kelly Johnson at point guard for three years because she was effective on the wing.  But when the Devils fell behind by 12 points in the second quarter Saturday, McCormack moved Johnson to lead guard where she excelled, scoring 17 points with three steals and two assists.

"We had to do it," said McCormack, "or we weren't going to get the ball across half court.  But we didn't get any scoring off the wing and that hurt us.  Our only option on offense was to go into the post."

The Red Devils' offense bogged down in the late going because Highland double-teamed Johnson and left the wings open at the three-point line.

Lowell returns three starters next season and good size in Bell, Goetz and Manis.  The Devils also have three other girls who played extensively in Haberlin, Schiessle and sophomore Mallory Pratt.  They have every slot filled for next year except the most important position, lead guard.  Seniors Lamb and Johnson played the majority of the time in the back court this season.

Lowell lost 43-33 to Highland on Jan. 20.  The Trojans unofficially were highly doubtful that Mandy Moes could play in the regional playoffs.  When she was injured against West Side, it was hoped she could play against Lowell Saturday.  But Saturday, she was on crutches with a Monday doctors' appointment.

You don't have to be Nostradamus to predict that Highland is not favored to survive this weekend.  Everybody at the Class 4A Valpo regional is a prohibitive underdog to South Bend Washington, which has a 24-game winning streak.  Washington (24-1), which plays Elkhart Memorial (19-5) in the second semifinal Saturday, has defeated 13 teams which have won 15 games or more including New Castle (23-2), Heritage Christian (22-3), St. Joseph's (21-2) and Bishop Luers (21-3).  Washington has defeated 20 teams by 14 points or more. The Panthers have already beaten Memorial 61-43 and are the only team to defeat Michigan City (22-2).

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Revised: February 14, 2007 .