Highland boys slow down game to win 49-37 at Lowell

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith
12-6-2005

Saturday, 12-3-2005  boys basketball at Lowell, IN

HIGHLAND (49)  Derek Moser 4-1-10, Ryan Drake 3-0-7,  Andrew Helmer 4-9-17, JD Fabian 2-0-4, Jon Biancardi 1-0-3, Jon Velasco 1-0-2, Greg Wiseman 2-0-4, Nick Cianci 1-0-2,  Josh Kiser 0-0-0.  TOTALS: 18 (10-14) 49.

LOWELL (37)  Jeff Clemens 5-0-12, Mike Weiand 2-0-6, Kyle Metz 4-1-12, Austin Hamm 0-1-1, Robert Cusic 1-0-2, Ryan Linedemer 1-0-2, Josh Kuiper 1-0-2, Joe Kerwin 0-0-0, Ben Drawbaugh 0-0-0.  TOTALS: 14 (2-4)37.

FREE THROWS: Highland (10-14, 71.4%) Moser 1-2, Helmer 9-9, Fabian 0-1, Drake 0-2;  LOWELL (2-4, .500) Metz 1-2, Hamm 1-2.

ASSISTS:  Highland (7) Fabian 3, Cianci 2, Moser, Helmer; LOWELL (10) Cusic 3, Clemens 2, Weiand 2,  Hamm, Kerwin, Kuiper.

STEALS:  Highland (5) Helmer 3, Moser, Velasco; LOWELL (4) Clemens 3, Cusic.

REBOUNDS:  Highland (20) Helmer 9, Drake 5, Fabian 2, Cianci 2, Velasco, Moser;  LOWELL (22) Clemens 5, Cusic 5, Metz 4, Weiand 3, Hamm 3, Lindemer 2.

3-GOALS: HIGHLAND (3) Biancardi, Drake, Moser; LOWELL (7) Metz 3, Weiand 2, Clemens 2.

LOWELL (12-3-2005) - Here was a game where both sides went away feeling pretty good about themselves.  Highland, which upset Gary West Side 50-45 in overtime the night before, slowed the game down late Saturday and won 49-37 at Lowell.

But it wasn't all bad for the Devils.

Lowell showed a true lead guard in the making in sophomore Robert Cusic, three outside shooting threats in Kyle Metz, Mike Weiand and Jeff Clemens and enough depth to go 10 deep. Even though the Devils could not build on a 29-28 halftime lead, it's obvious they aren't going to be 2-19 like they were last season.

"They put the pressure on," said Lowell coach Mike Magley about Highland's stronger second half.  "We knew they'd try to do that.  They put the arm on us and that wasn't called tonight.  We need to go more back door against things like that.  Fatigue set in for some of us and we went back to some old habits."

New coach Eddie Fierek decided that his Trojans, playing a second game in two nights, needed to get the lead and then sow the game down.

"We were down by one point," Fierek obvserved, "at the half.  Then, at the end of three quarters, we were up six.  So we were able to get control of the game.  I told them, 'hey, we just need to get out of here with a win.'"

Clemens and Josh Kuiper, who played major roles on Lowell's Class 4A state championship football team that was playing on Nov. 26, did not start the game but came in with 5:07 to go in the first quarter.

Clemens, a 6-2 wing player, scored two quick baskets to even the game 8-8 but it was the shooting of 5-10 senior Kyle Metz that kept the game even though the second quarter.  The Trojans, who started five seniors, may have made the mistake of trying to match three-point shots with Lowell in the early going. 

When Clemens stole a pass and scored on a breakaway layup, Lowell had a 29-28 halftime lead.

The game featured an entertaining one-on-one battle between the Highland's Andrew Helmer and Lowell's Clemens, who met a half dozen times on the football field. There was a lot of physical contact and some talking between the two, all of which the game officials ignored. Helmer played the entire game while Clemens was part of a 12-man Lowell rotation, but the matchup was spirited and fairly even.  The Lowell football star was not totally ready to play basketball.

"They're in condition but they're not in basketball shape," said Magley of Clemens and Kuiper.  "They did fine.  They only needed five practices, Coach Kennedy was gracious enough to release them from some of their football responsibilities and it says something about them because they wanted to beat Highland.  Once again, we lost.  But there's some unhappy people in the back.  We're tired of it."

Highland slowed the pace of the game and held Lowell scoreless for the first 4 1/2 minutes of the second half, building up a 36-29 lead.  Derek Moser, another Trojan football star, scored seven of his 10 points in the third quarter, as the Trojans pulled away.  Lowell scored only eight points in the second half and they didn't get that many shots, committing nine third quarter turnovers.

Down the stretch, Helmer had the ball in his hand and he sank 4-of-4 from the line and grabbed four fourth quarter rebounds.  Highland has some physical deficiencies (speed, size) when it come to winning the sectional, but they have a ton of experience (7 seniors) and it shows in how they play.  

"It was great to beat West Side," Fierek said.  "The kids ran on the floor at the end.  It was the first time we had beaten them.  We might have been a step slow tonight."

Magley didn't want to talk about individuals but he had praise for the group. "We've got a lot of good guys and I have faith in all of them." he said.  "One through 13. were a great bunch of guys and one night somebody you don't expect is going to jump up and play big minutes.

DEVIL NOTES:  Highland coach Eddie Fierek didn't want to say anything bad about his former school, but he's happy about moving from Bishop Noll, where he coached for four years, to Highland. 

"All around, he says. "It's just a better situation."

Fierek says that Andrew Helmer is still looking for a college to attend where he can play both football and basketball.

"He's looking for the best deal," he said. "Whether it's football or basketball.  I would like him to choose one and work on that one.  He'd like to play both.  St. Joe has been looking at him.  They'd love to have him."

Robert Cusic, who played only briefly as a freshman, is much improved at point guard and 6-4 Mike Weiand has developed an outside shot.  It probably should be remembered that Clemens, who is listed as a forward but roams all over the floor, did not play the first 10 games last season.  The Devils need to develop a low post threat that will free up Metz and Weiand to play facing the basket.

Lowell chose not to press the experienced Trojans with their younger roster, forcing the Trojans to play a half court game.  The Red Devils used 11 players including senior Austin Hamm, now listed at 6-4 1/2.  As they do in football, Lowell has a small junior class (just five players) but a very large sophomore basketball class (nine on the varsity and JV) including football defensive end Jeff Barker (6-4, 175), 6-4 Jake Kerwin and the 5-10 Macis twins, Ted and Eli.