Behind The Box Score

Third Time Is The Charm: Rocks top Bears

After the first two games between Coffman and Upper Arlington going to the final minute, did you expect anything different for round three? A long two point shot by Carter Smith bounced out, and Coffman escaped a vicous rally by the Bears, and the Rocks survived 50-48. Upper Arlington’s undefeated season comes to a close in the same round that it did in ’09 when they fell to Newark.

The Bears (21-1) jumped out on the Rocks 23-16 early into the second quarter, in similar fashion to how the first two games were played. But an 8-0 run by Coffman (20-3) gave them a lead that would not be relinquished until late in the 4th.

The Rocks would push the lead out to as many as 8 in the 3rd quarter, but after the end of the third the gap was cut to 5. Two turnovers and missed chances by Coffman would get UA within one. Kyle Molock’s drive to the lane would help extend the Rocks lead to 6. The lead would change hands once more, but Coffman led by one when Michael Green was fouled and with thirteen seconds left, Michael Green for Coffman knocked down one of two free throws. The shot for UA fell short, and time had run out on their undefeated season.

Undefeated No More: Red Devils top South

Two years ago, a top seeded Northland team faced Westerville South in the district semifinal. The Cats somehow upset the #1 Vikings that day in one of the great upsets of the decade. Today, they were on the recieving end of this upset, falling to Marion Franklin just a few minutes ago. The Wildcats (22-1) had trouble matching the post presence of the Red Devils’ Elijah Macon, who controlled the inside for most of the game.

South jumped out to a 6-2 lead, but the running style of Marion Franklin gave the Devils a lead at the end of one. Once again, South found a way to control tempo, and led by 7 twice during the first half, but still could not gain the advantage at the halftime break.

After half, the lead for the Red Devils would grow to as many as 8, with South’s Traevon Jackson struggling since he sat out the last five minutes of the first half with three fouls. South made runs to cut into the deficit, but each time Marion Franklin would answer. Midway through the fourth, the Devils held a 56-48 lead, until a violent rally by South would tie the game up. Jackson missed a breakaway layup that would have given South a two point lead, but was contested and the shot fell off. Marion-Franklin would go on an 8-0 run of their own to give themselves the lead for good.

Next Saturday’s district final between Dublin Coffman (20-3) and Marion-Franklin (17-5) will start at 10:00 AM at the Fairgrounds Coliseum.