MERIDIAN - When Cato-Meridian center A.J. Rothenburg picked up his fourth foul with 3:25 left in the third quarter against Little Falls Thursday night his absence was missed, but the Blue Devils picked up the slack.
When Rothenburg re-entered the Section III, Class C-1 opening round game with 39.8 second left his presence was immediately felt.
Cato-Meridian was clinging to a 58-56 lead when Rothenburg came back, and teammate Andy Wegman was at the line for a one-and-one. Wegman's shot rimmed out and Rothenburg was there for the offensive rebound, starting a 6-3 run that put the game away for the No. 7 seeded Blue Devils.
Rothenburg had two points, a block, a steal and a rebound in the last 40 seconds as Cato-Meridian escaped Little Falls, 64-59. C-M advances to play Saturday at No. 2 Onondaga.
“I was hoping to make a play to (get) my team up more,” the junior said, “to try to get my team a bigger lead.”
The Mounties (7-13) had climbed all the way back from a 14-point deficit and managed to tie the game 56-56 with 1:25 left. The Blue Devils (10-9) let their guard down against guard Alex Ewanyk, who sank two three-pointers in the final 2:30.
“You've got to get a hand up when it gets down to the last two minutes,” said Blue Devil coach Ryan Brunelle. “If you don't, players will be players and that's what happened for them tonight.”
During Little Falls' 14-4 fourth-quarter run, Mountie coach Brian Dunn was willing to take chance sending the Blue Devils to the foul line. Wegman had missed his last three foul shots, so when James Sarto fouled out bumping Wegman after the junior had blocked an Ewanyk shot, Dunn believed it was a smart foul.
But when Wegman missed, Rothenburg out-muscled 6-foot-3 center Jeff Hurteau to the rebound. Dunn believes a case of overconfidence led to the Mounties' mistake.
“It's not the first time it#'s happened where we haven't blocked out,” Dunn said. “Because of our size, we have a tendency to not focus on blocking out. That kid made a great play to get the ball. That was the difference.”
Both teams cancelled each other out with four players in double figures, but in the end it was Cato-Meridian free-throw shooting that prevailed. The Blue Devils went 6-for-6 from the line in the last 36 seconds to seal the win.
“Beginning of the year when these kids had no experience, they were afraid of the foul line,” Brunelle said, noting that C-M has had seven different leading scorers this season.
“The last eight or nine games it's come down to the last three minutes and they pull it through.
“With Andy being at the line I don't care, I#'m sure he#'ll make them. Tonight he didn't but tomorrow he will.”
Rothenburg and Preston Den
nison each had 15 points for the Blue Devils, while Cody Humberstone had 12 and Wegman had 10. Rothenburg added 10 rebounds and four blocks, Humberstone and Dillon Caswell each had six boards, Dennison had five and Wegman had five steals and a block.
Cato-Meridian will gear up for a showdown with Onondaga on Saturday. The Blue Devils lost the only meeting of the season, but are hoping for an upset.
Rothenburg, who may draw the tough assignment of guarding Tiger all-star Latavius Murray, is ready for the challenge. When asked if he might have to guard the senior, his answer was simple.
“I hope so.”
Cato-Meridian was clinging to a 58-56 lead when Rothenburg came back, and teammate Andy Wegman was at the line for a one-and-one. Wegman's shot rimmed out and Rothenburg was there for the offensive rebound, starting a 6-3 run that put the game away for the No. 7 seeded Blue Devils.
Rothenburg had two points, a block, a steal and a rebound in the last 40 seconds as Cato-Meridian escaped Little Falls, 64-59. C-M advances to play Saturday at No. 2 Onondaga.
“I was hoping to make a play to (get) my team up more,” the junior said, “to try to get my team a bigger lead.”
The Mounties (7-13) had climbed all the way back from a 14-point deficit and managed to tie the game 56-56 with 1:25 left. The Blue Devils (10-9) let their guard down against guard Alex Ewanyk, who sank two three-pointers in the final 2:30.
“You've got to get a hand up when it gets down to the last two minutes,” said Blue Devil coach Ryan Brunelle. “If you don't, players will be players and that's what happened for them tonight.”
During Little Falls' 14-4 fourth-quarter run, Mountie coach Brian Dunn was willing to take chance sending the Blue Devils to the foul line. Wegman had missed his last three foul shots, so when James Sarto fouled out bumping Wegman after the junior had blocked an Ewanyk shot, Dunn believed it was a smart foul.
But when Wegman missed, Rothenburg out-muscled 6-foot-3 center Jeff Hurteau to the rebound. Dunn believes a case of overconfidence led to the Mounties' mistake.
“It's not the first time it#'s happened where we haven't blocked out,” Dunn said. “Because of our size, we have a tendency to not focus on blocking out. That kid made a great play to get the ball. That was the difference.”
Both teams cancelled each other out with four players in double figures, but in the end it was Cato-Meridian free-throw shooting that prevailed. The Blue Devils went 6-for-6 from the line in the last 36 seconds to seal the win.
“Beginning of the year when these kids had no experience, they were afraid of the foul line,” Brunelle said, noting that C-M has had seven different leading scorers this season.
“The last eight or nine games it's come down to the last three minutes and they pull it through.
“With Andy being at the line I don't care, I#'m sure he#'ll make them. Tonight he didn't but tomorrow he will.”
Rothenburg and Preston Den
nison each had 15 points for the Blue Devils, while Cody Humberstone had 12 and Wegman had 10. Rothenburg added 10 rebounds and four blocks, Humberstone and Dillon Caswell each had six boards, Dennison had five and Wegman had five steals and a block.
Cato-Meridian will gear up for a showdown with Onondaga on Saturday. The Blue Devils lost the only meeting of the season, but are hoping for an upset.
Rothenburg, who may draw the tough assignment of guarding Tiger all-star Latavius Murray, is ready for the challenge. When asked if he might have to guard the senior, his answer was simple.
“I hope so.”
The Citizens' Say
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