Posted on 14 March 2010 by .
By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor
WASHINGTON – Played before a decibel-driven throng of 7,000 fans clad in black and gold March 13 at the Hatchet House, the Class 3A Regional 8 championship game between the black-jerseyed No. 6 host Hatchets and white-clad No. 11 Boonville constituted a roller coaster of emotion, physicality, scoring runs, droughts, and, finally, free throws.
The result? A 55-47 victory that advances five-time state champion Washington to the semistate round for the second time in three years. Washington (21-3) will face top-ranked Danville (25-1), a 47-43 Shelbyville Regional winner over No. 3 Mt. Vernon (Fortville), in the 3A southern semistate March 20 at either Seymour or Southport.
CHECK OUT THE PICTURES AND POST-GAME VIDEO INTERVIEWS, WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS ON THE WAY!!
The Hatchets won 3A state titles the last two times they got this far, downing Plymouth on Luke Zeller’s 40-foot jumper at the overtime buzzer in 2005 and riding the twin towers of Tyler Zeller and the late Seth Coy to overpower Harding in 2008.
Six-foot-10 junior center Cody Zeller – yes, he’s the youngest in a long line of mammoth Washingtonians – overcame first-half foul problems against Boonville to collect game highs of 21 points and nine rebounds. But it was clutch free throw shooting down the stretch from both Zeller and his teammates that enabled the Hatchets to survive in this fascinating clash of Big Eight Conference powers.
After an 11-0 start by Washington got the home fans wound up early, Boonville (19-6) took advantage of Zeller’s second foul (and subsequent pilgrimage to the bench for the remainder of the half) with 43.3 seconds left in the first quarter. The Pioneers crept within 16-7 after one and made it even more manageable with just a six-point gap, 25-19, at halftime.
But everyone knew the big fella would be back in the post for the Hatchets to start the second half. Which played right into Boonville’s hands as the Pioneers became the aggressor, getting physical with Zeller in the paint and perhaps mentally into his head in attempt to reach their first semistate since 1978.
A 7-0 run to start the third period gave Boonville its first lead at 26-25 and was immediately followed by Zeller’s third foul on a charge. The big man then lost the ball on a post feed before forcing a shot that went awry, and suddenly Washington was staring at a scoreless drought of nine minutes.
Combined with a 25-5 Boonville run that culminated with Zeller-trumping buckets on a drive through the paint, a lovely scoop shot in traffic, and another layin off a beautiful feed, it’s no small wonder the roof stayed on the building following the howls of Pioneers fans.
But junior guard Kurtis Anthony hit a huge 3-pointer with 1:33 to play in the third to stop the Hatchet hemorrhage and draw Washington within four at 32-28. And when Boonville failed to run out the clock on its last possession in favor of a drive and silly foul on the rebound, Zeller made the Pioneers pay with a three at the buzzer from directly in front of the Washington bench.
That lit the Hatchets on fire as they roared out on an 8-2 run to start the fourth quarter up 41-36. But Boonville tied it at 41 on a three from the left elbow and a layup the next trip down by senior guard Brad Altstadt (a team-high 17 points), and sophomore forward Ryan Casey gave the Pioneers their last lead at 43-41 on another assisted layin.
But Zeller muscled his way along the baseline for a bunny to tie it with 3:18 remaining in the game, then got loose for a would-be dunk on a fast break following a Boonville turnover. His hammering from behind by Casey ensured a pair of free throws, and the Hatchets would hit all 10 of their unguarded 15-foot chances over the final 3:04.
Free throws really were the key for Washington, which went a splendid 16 of 18 in the second half. That 89-percent clip was just enough to counter Boonville’s fast-paced offensive mayhem that was tempered by turnovers in the backcourt resulting from Washington’s full-court press.
Randy Helfert’s turnaround baseline swish from the right side with 35.2 seconds left got Boonville within 49-47, setting the stage for possibly the play of the game. The pressing Pioneers had Washington hung up near the end line following the in-bounds pass and were nearing a huge 10-second call, but Altstadt fouled sophomore guard Dylan Ervin instead.
Now in the double bonus, the Hatchets put all those before-school free throw shooting practices to use as a last-ditch 3-pointer from senior guard Preston Altstadt caromed off the back of the rim, ending Boonville’s hopes.
In the day’s opening semifinal, Zeller led all scorers with 29 points and again was thrifty from the stripe in going 11 of 13 as the Hatchets ousted No. 10 Corydon (19-6), 52-45. Boonville followed that up with 15 points by Brandon Morton and a dozen each from Brad Altstadt and Helfert as the Pioneers easily upset eighth-ranked Sullivan, 54-35.
8. Washington Regional
Game 1 – #6 Washington 52, #10 Corydon 45
Game 2 – #11 Boonville 54, #8 Sullivan 35
Championship – #6 Washington 55, #11 Boonville 47
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