Trojan comeback rims out at the line

It was the Trojans’ unlikeliest shooter who got them to this point.

Senior Luke Haggerty prides himself on his defensive ability. Earlier this year he compared his game to NBA upsetter Dennis Rodman.

But in Saturday’s 7-B District consolation game, it was Hagggerty’s three-point shooting that allowed him to step to the free-throw line with the game in the balance. Of course, his hustle helped, too. Grabbing an offensive rebound after a Gage Tallmadge layup attempt, Haggerty was fouled in the act of shooting with 5.4 seconds to go. Down 53-52 to Plains, Haggerty had the opportunity to put his team ahead for the first time since the first quarter.

The first shot bounced off the rim. The second shot did too, and the tallest player on the court, Plains’ Aaron Baker, grabbed the rebound to seal the deal. After getting fouled, Baker’s two free throws brought the game to its final score, 55-52.

After the game, Troy Coach Cory Andersen made it clear that it was not Haggerty’s two missed free throws that cost the Trojans the game, it was lackadaisical first- and third-quarter defense.

“Our defense was lacking a good portion of the game,” Andersen said.

The Trojans, not a high-powered offensive team, allowed 35 points in the first and third quarters. Trailing 45-35 entering the third quarter, the Trojans began the comeback effort with a corner three-pointer by Tallmadge. In the final minute of the third quarter Tallmadge sparked the Trojan offense when he unleashed an explosive crossover at midcourt that left freshman Plains guard Ryan Ovitt stumbling. Tallmadge leaped over Ovitt and finished with a transition layup to make it an eight-point game.

Senior Gabe Hickman hit a three of his own shortly after Tallmadge’s shot to cut the deficit to six. One minute later, Haggerty, left unguarded at the perimeter by the condensed Horsemen defense, hesitantly let it fly from downtown and brought Troy within a single possession.

“(Haggerty) became a threat for us,” Andersen said. “It was no surprise that Plains packed the lane. It’s what teams do against us. Guys have to adjust and make shots. They leave some guys open and let them shoot whatever they want.”

Plains’ game plan began to break when Haggerty drained his second corner three-pointer with a minute remaining, keeping Troy in it, 53-50. Haggerty’s layup with 25 seconds left brought Troy within one, 53-52.

A freshman Horsemen backcourt of Ovitt and Alec Cole that deftly handled the Trojan defense during the first 31 minutes of the game wilted at the end. Cole missed two free throws with 14 seconds remaining,  and an over-and-back call against Ovitt with 30 seconds remaining led to Haggerty’s last layup.

Haggerty missed his free throws at the end, and yes, he could have won it for the Trojans. But those two missed free throws do not take away from one of Haggerty’s best games of his senior year. Troy did enough offensively to win — Haggerty, Hickman, Tallmadge and Sean Opland each scored in double digits — but the Trojans left too much work for themselves in the fourth-quarter.

“I told the guys that if we played the whole game with the intensity we had in the fourth quarter, we would not have had a problem,” Andersen said. “When we get to tournament play, we need a full game.”

The Trojans advanced to the double-elimination Western B Divisional Tournament by finishing in the top four of the five-team tournament. The Trojans (11-9) travel Wednesday to Florence (11-9) for a 1 p.m. tip. Florence won its fifth-straight District 6-B title Saturday against Loyola.

Plains: 17 10 18 10 – 55

Troy: 12 12 11 17 – 52

PLAINS – Ryan Ovitt 13, Alec Cole 2, Aaron Baker 10, Kyle Revier 9, James Rulison 11, Wyatt Winebrenner 6, Brady Ovitt 4.

TROY – Luke Haggerty 10, Gabe Hickman 11, Gage Tallmadge 11, Ryan Huffman 3, Nathan Olds 2, Sean Opland 12, Bruce Metz 3