H.S. Boys Basketball: Wheeler 74, Hanover Central 55

Team	1st Qtr	2nd Qtr	3rd Qtr	4th Qtr	Final
HANOVER CENTRAL (11-9)	9	20	7	19	55
Wheeler (20-4)	17	20	16	21	74

2A Sectional Semifinals - Friday, 3-5-2004 in Hammond

HANOVER CENTRAL (55) Dave Ploetz 2-0-4, Adam Suarez 2-1-5, Owen Goff 7-2-16, Jeff Johnson 3-2-10, Brandon Hegg 1-1-3, Greg Shroka 1-4-6, Jeremy Peterson 3-0-6, Billy Nordyke 0-0-0, Matt Jackson 1-1-3, Doug Bilinski 1-0-2, Dave Pempek 0-0-0, Jacob Rush 0-0-0. TOTALS: 21-11-55.

FREETHROWS:11-23, 47.8 percent: Suarez 1-2, Hegg 1-2, Goff 2-4, Johnson 2-3, Peterson 0-2, Shroka 4-4, Jackson 1-2, Bilinski 0-4.
REBOUNDS: Owen Goff - 9
ASSISTS: Owen Goff - 2
STEALS: Jeff Johnson - 2
FOULED OUT: Johnson (4th Q) 3:20 left.
3-POINT GOALS (2) Jeff Johnson 2.

WHEELER (74) Andrew Patten 3-5-11, Wes Barnes 5-5-15, Joe Dobson 5-2-17, Cordale Micou 3-4-10, Steve Wilson 3-6-12, Ryan Morris 1-0-3, Nick Pitts 0-1-1, Zach Green 1-2-5, Sean Mills 0-0-0. TOTALS: 21-25-74.

FREETHROWS: 25-33, 75.7 percent: Patten 5-6, Barnes 5-6, Dobson 2-2, Micou 4-6, Wilson 6-7, Pitts 1-2, Green 2-2, Mills 0-2.
ASSISTS: Andrew Patten - 4
REBOUNDS: Wes Barnes - 11
STEALS: Andrew Patten - 2
3-POINT GOALS (7) Wes Dobson 5, Ryan Morris, Zach Green.

HAMMOND (3-5-2004) - A big basketball game is like a plane flight. For it to be a success, it must go well all the way to the conclusion. Major trouble at any time and it wont matter how smoothly the rest of the flight went.

For a half of the Hanover Central-Wheeler sectional semifinal last Friday, Hanover was on even ground with their more highly regarded rival. The Wildcats were within 28-27 late in the first half and were still at 37-32 in the first minute of the third quarter.

Then they crashed and burned. Wheeler's half court trapping defense forced HC to shoot quickly and make mistakes leading to a 74-55 Bearcat blowout in the Bishop Noll Class 2A semifinals.

"That's the story of our life against Wheeler," said HC coach Dave Uran. "We made a run. We could have packed it in down 12 early. But we made a turnover right before the half and we didn't get that initial second half run that would make them doubt themselves. The sense of urgency was on our part. If we could have had that 28-27 score up here at half-time, they'd be sitting there wondering, ' We haven't played well and they're right there.' But we weren't close enough."

Top scorer Jeff Johnson (16.6 ppg.) collected eight of his points in the first half, but the Bearcats traditional half court trapping defenses took the ball out of Johnson's hands in the second half. Senior Owen Goff led HC with 16 points, 10 in the second half. But the bigger numbers were 21 of 51 (41.1 percent) from the field and 11 of 23 (47.7 percent) from the foul line.

Wheeler freed up long range shooter Joe Dobson (57 three-point baskets this year) for big shots in the second quarter after the score became 28-27 and in the middle of Wheeler's 16-7 third quarter run. Dobson scored 17 while 6-3 forward Wes Barnes added 15 points and 11 rebounds. The Bearcats all-senior iron man starting five of Barnes, Dobson, Cordale Micou, Andrew Patten and Steve Wilson all scored in double figures and totaled 65 of the 74 points.

"They shot lights out," said Uran. "Fourteen of 14 from the line in the first half (25 of 33 for the game). Their five seniors. They're first class people. That's a tough team. They've been there before. They expect to win and they should."

The end of the game was slow as Hanover called every time out and Wheeler didn't have the entire starting five out until just 2:51 remained.

"We've got some size coming back," said Uran. "Eric Gross is 6-3, 6-4 and still growing. Greg Shroka will be more of a scorer. He'll have to be. Larry Pempek's a really good baseball player but I think next year, he'll see he has a real opportunity here too. "

"We lose seven seniors and I told them that they were a part of two consecutive winning seasons. Something that hasn't happened at our school very often. I think they will be proud of that."

CAT NOTES: Bishop Noll won the Class 2A Bishop Noll Sectional with a 39-37 victory over Wheeler (20-5) Saturday night in front of about 1,500 people in Hammond. The Bearcats held Noll star Gary Patterson (23.2 ppg.) to nine points on three three-point baskets but Noll held Wheeler guard Cordale Micou (17.2 pg.) to only 11 points. Wheeler's shooting was off and they were held to just 11 field goals. Noll will play Elkhart power Jimtown (21-2) in the second semifinal game of the North Judson Regional semifinals on Saturday, March 13.

Wheeler Tournament
Dec. 26: 47-66 Wheeler (20-5)
Dec. 27: 45-54 Hobart (11-10)

Jan. 3: 38-53 at Lowell (8-13)
Jan. 6: 55-45 (OT) Whiting (6-14)
Jan. 9: 50-52 at BOONE GROVE (13-9)
Jan. 13: 76-53 Beecher (Ill.)
Jan. 15: 57-62 at Gavit (7-13)

Wheeler ends HC Wildcats season 74-55 at 2A Bishop Noll Sectional Semifinal

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

2A Sectional Semifinals - Friday, 3-5-2004 in Hammond