By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
HUNTINGBURG – For want of a rebound, a battle was lost.
After a near-miracle comeback erased its advantage, Southridge converted two huge offensive rebounds into go-ahead points for the final minute. That’s the difference in remaining undefeated and a morning upset, according to the rankings, in the opening game of a power-packed tournament.
Southridge, ranked No.5 in Class 3A, proved its defensive toughness with a 50-42 victory over Bedford North Lawrence in the first game of its own event on Saturday. Tate Whitehead paced the Raiders (7-0) with 24 points, including the basket that gave Southridge the final lead.
The frantic finish came after BNL star Patric Matson, a one-man scoring machine, turned turnovers into five points during an electric 10-second span, powering the Stars (3-4) to a 42-42 deadlock at 2:07. But on Southridge’s next possession, after a miss was chased down, Whitehead slashed the paint for a bucket and foul. He missed the free throw, but big man Davis Schwartz grabbed that rebound and got the ball to Cam Haywood, who made two free throws 10 seconds later. That set up Southridge’s breathless escape.
“We just missed one big, huge rebound,” BNL coach Kurt Godlevske said. “That’s why possessions matter.”
BNL trailed 42-37 when its press paid off. Dax Short forced a turnover and found Matson for a slam, then Matson swiped the inbound pass and scored for a 3-point play that created the deadlock. But that would be BNL’s last chance. After the two offensive rebounds, the Raiders made six straight free throws to clinch it.
The Stars, with Matson exploding to another level, controlled the first half. Matson erupted for 11 quick points as BNL took a 13-9 lead at the first break, then turned back-to-back steals into buckets for BNL’s biggest lead at 19-12.
Southridge fought back. After Whitehead scored twice to end the first half, he started the second with two treys, and Brock Thacker made a bomb as the Raiders rolled to a 31-26 advantage.
“Our guys don’t like to lose,” Southridge coach Ryan Haywood said. “I know that’s as cliche as cliche can get. No one likes to lose, but our guys really hate it. They can take it to another level. They’re just winners and competitors.”
Whitehead, who went over 1,000 career points, swished another trey for a 39-32 lead. BNL answered with two Isaish Sasser free throws and Quincy Pickett’s 3-point play, setting up the BNL rally that was ultimately wasted.
Southridge, one of the state leaders in points allowed, proved why with its man-to-man physical toughness and constant help. Matson was terrific, finishing with a season-high 29 points, but the rest of the Stars were only 4 of 15 from the field. BNL was the first team to score 40 on the Raiders this season.
“Our guys compete,” Haywood said. “They really buy into the defensive end. They almost take offense when a team scores on them. Matson is a heck of a player. We just wanted to make him make tough shots. He’s a handful to guard.“
Thacker finished with 11 points and Haywood added 10 for the Raiders, who beat BNL for the first time in program history while advancing to the tournament’s title game.
“They play the right way,” Godlevske said. “Their kids are tough and hard-nosed. The defense was really good. They have tremendous help and rotations. We didn’t do a good enough job of what we were supposed to do to take advantage.
“We always seem to have one or two play well, and the others seem lost. We’ve got to be more efficient offensively. We giving ourselves enough chances defensively to stay in ballgames, but offensively teams are forcing us physically to do what they want. We have to be tougher than that.”
South Ripley 62, Orleans 49 – In the second game, Class 2A No.13 South Ripley (9-0) handed Class A No.1 Orleans (5-1) its first loss. Blaine Ward scored 31 points and Cole Henry added 17 for the Raiders.
Bryce Jones had 16 points and Rylan Crocker added 10 for the Bulldogs.
BNL and Orleans will collide in the consolation game at 6 p.m., followed by the Southridge-South Ripley finale.
BEDFORD NL STARS (42)
3s FGs FTs R F Pts
5 Dax Short, f 0-1 1-5 1-2 2 5 3
22 Isaiah Sasser, f 0-0 1-3 3-4 3 2 5
31 Logan Miracle, c 0-0 0-3 0-0 5 1 0
10 Patric Matson, g 1-5 12-20 4-5 2 4 29
3 Quincy Pickett, g 0-1 2-3 1-1 0 2 5
12 Jacob Ritter 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
24 Gibson Crane 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
4 Parker Kern 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 2 0
Totals 1-7 16-35 9-12 15 16 42
SOUTHRIDGE RAIDERS (50)
3s FGs FTs R F Pts
35 Brock Thacker, f 2-5 4-8 1-2 4 3 11
22 Davis Schwartz, f 0-0 0-1 0-0 4 1 0
2 Justin Leathers, g 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 1 0
3 Tate Whitehead, g 4-8 9-15 2-3 1 1 24
10 Cam Haywood, g 1-3 1-4 7-8 3 1 10
5 Noah Wright 0-0 0-2 1-2 4 2 1
23 Hudson Montgomery 0-0 0-0 0-0 2 0 0
33 Heith Steckler 0-0 1-1 2-2 1 1 4
20 Rolan Whitehead 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Totals 7-16 15-32 13-17 20 10 50
Bedford NL 13 9 7 13 – 42
Southridge 9 10 17 14 – 50
Turnovers – BNL 14, Southridge 17
Field goal percentage – BNL 16-35 (.457); Southridge 15-32 (.469)
Free throw percentage – BNL 9-12 (.750); Southridge 13-17 (.765)
SOUTH RIPLEY 62, ORLEANS 49
Orleans (5-1) – Rylan Crocker 10, Nolan Robbins 2, Jimmy Sanders 1, Bryce Jones 16, Nate Brown 4, Troy Dille 4, Alex DeWitt 7, Mason Freed 5.
South Ripley (9-0) – Blaine Ward 31, Cole Henry 17, Drew Volz 4, Blake Gunter 1, Chancie Volz 5, Eli Gilpin 4
