MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[ScotsFan]

Rodney Mitchell's last-second runner in the lane to beat John Carroll 77-75 in the 2003 NCAA tournament.

That's one I'll never forget!  That basket propelled the Scots all the way to Salem that year as well!

I can think of a couple of other dramatic baskets that didn't necessarily lead directly to Wooster wins.  These were actually memorable sequences. 

The first one is the most recent occurring last season at home vs. Wittenberg.  Wooster had come all the way back to erase a 15 point halftime deficit with just under 2 minutes to go in the game.  Wooster had possession to tie or take the lead, but turned it over and Witt had almost an uncontested lay-up that would have gone a long way to putting the Scots away.  However, Witt missed the lay-up.  There was a mad scramble which somehow came to Devin Fulk at mid-court.  He then flipped the ball over his head to an open Brandon Johnson who then emphatically slammed it home for the tying basket almost blowing the roof off of Timken Gymnasium.  Unfortunately, Witt went on to win that game, but that was about the loudest I have ever heard Timken after that dunk.

Another memorable sequence occurred back in 2000 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.  ONU was the opponent and the Scots were in control of that contest almost the entire game.  However, Northern made a run at Wooster late in the first half and appeared to have the Scots on the ropes.  With ONU down 3, they forced a Wooster turnover that led to an ONU breakaway and what appeared to be a slam dunk that would have cut the Wooster lead to one.  But the ONU player missed the dunk, Wooster controlled the rebound and broke the other way.  Wooster then kicked the ball out to an open Steve Thompson who calmly sunk a 3 point dagger pushing the Wooster lead back to 5 and ONU never really threatened the rest of the way.  That basket also sent Timken into a frenzy as well!

[kiltedbryan]

The first one is the most recent occurring last season at home vs. Wittenberg.  Wooster had come all the way back to erase a 15 point halftime deficit with just under 2 minutes to go in the game.  Wooster had possession to tie or take the lead, but turned it over and Witt had almost an uncontested lay-up that would have gone a long way to putting the Scots away.  However, Witt missed the lay-up.  There was a mad scramble which somehow came to Devin Fulk at mid-court.  He then flipped the ball over his head to an open Brandon Johnson who then emphatically slammed it home for the tying basket almost blowing the roof off of Timken Gymnasium.  Unfortunately, Witt went on to win that game, but that was about the loudest I have ever heard Timken after that dunk.

SF- That sequence started with Fulk driving the lane for Wooster's only lead, by 1, then Witt drained a three to go back ahead, then the sequence as you describe above. Crazy 30 seconds of basketball.

Best thing is, Wooster still has the video clip of this whole sequence on its website- view it here.

[David Collinge]

I learned something this morning, courtesy of Zach Bolinger in his Daily Record article "Sixth Man with a Hot Hand" (link; subscription may be required):

[Devin] Fulk, a first-team All-Ohioan at Licking Valley, who also quarterbacked the football team to the Div. III state semifinals in 2003, was a late addition to the Scots' family.

"It was all but finalized that I was going to Wittenberg," Fulk said. "I had been talking to them for months during my senior year and hadn't actually said a word to Wooster, but I made a visit here late in the spring. I decided a couple days later (Wooster) was where I wanted to play."

[woosterbooster]

I will never look at Devin Fulk the same way again.

[seinfeld]

Wooster now has a short video clip of Brandon Johnson's last-second shot on the Web.

http://athletics.wooster.edu/mb/recaps/2007-08/walsh.php

Maybe Wittenberg will also claim that Fulk didn't have the grades to get in there, just like they claim with Cooper. Saw a similar post on the football board. I, along with probably just about everyone else, have no idea about specific cases, but it is really funny/ridiculous to hear Wittenberg people complain about academics. Not that the U.S. New Rankings are the be-all, end-all, but Wittenberg is ranked 118, and Wooster is 71. But then again, I didn't go to Wittenberg, so I must not be smart to enough to know the difference.

[sac]

The first one is the most recent occurring last season at home vs. Wittenberg.  Wooster had come all the way back to erase a 15 point halftime deficit with just under 2 minutes to go in the game.  Wooster had possession to tie or take the lead, but turned it over and Witt had almost an uncontested lay-up that would have gone a long way to putting the Scots away.  However, Witt missed the lay-up.  There was a mad scramble which somehow came to Devin Fulk at mid-court.  He then flipped the ball over his head to an open Brandon Johnson who then emphatically slammed it home for the tying basket almost blowing the roof off of Timken Gymnasium.  Unfortunately, Witt went on to win that game, but that was about the loudest I have ever heard Timken after that dunk.

I knew someone would describe that one eventually.  I would agree that was a cool sequence of events(my only Woo/Witt game).  It made the last 1:11 very interesting.

[pennstghs]

yes i will admit that was a good play-the outcome made it even better

[kiltedbryan]

Heard this second-hand from the Wooster coaching staff, and now the Woo website confirms.

"» Due to a conflict in travel plans, Wooster's game in The Bahamas against St. Mary's (Md.) has been moved to Thursday."

My understanding is that the team's flight was delayed in Cleveland, to the extent that they would have missed their connecting flight, so rather than be stranded in a different city and scrambling for a hotel, they came back home to practice and will try to fly to the Bahamas tomorrow.

I believe that Wooster will play Benedictine as scheduled Wednesday, then the St. Mary's game on Thursday, barring any further travel difficulties.  Apparently St. Mary's and Benedictine both arrived in the Bahamas today, and will play tomorrow night in place of the original Woo-St. Mary's game.

[wally_wabash]

NCAC fans...I'll be trying something new this evening and posting live from Chadwick Court with instant, first-hand observations and thoughts from tonight's tussle with Franklin in C'ville.  We'll see how well this little experiment works out.   

[wally_wabash]

And we're live from Chadwick...starting lineups are being introduced.  With the students on break, this is a friends and family affair tonight.  I'll try to keep a semi-running log of the action....I hope you guys enjoy it. 

1st Half.....

20:00 - Zimmer controls the tip and we're underway!

18:05 - Franklin is running a pretty deliberate offense, but has drawn two fouls already and are 4-4 from the line.  Wabash has scored on its first two possessions as well (Simkus and Brock scoring under the hoop).  We're knotted at 4-4.  Brock scores again as I type.  6-4 Bash.


5:41 - Timeout Franklin.  Livestats tells me that Franklin is 5-6 on 3ptFGs.  Wabash has a pretty clear advantage in the paint tonight...the LGs are going to have to defend that perimeter a little better because Franklin can clearly shoot the ball.
15:50 - Franklin is doing a good job on the offensive boards.  They've gotten multiple attempts on three of their first four possessions and lead 10-6. 

14:04 - Typing and watching basketball simultaneously is hard.     Simkus is flying all over the floor.  He earned himself another bucket as well.  10-8 Grizz.

12:56 - Wabash isn't defending the perimeter well.  Jace Redman just nailed his second triple of the game to give Franklin a 13-8 advantage.

This is a good time to mention that Wabash/Franklin has a long series and in the last decade or so these games have been very competitive.  Wabash and Franklin had some real wars in the late 90s with Estelle and Franklin's Jason Sibley taking center stage.  Those were the days.   

10:11 - Wabash has just one scorer on the floor right now (Brock)...it'll be interesting to see how long Petty goes with this lineup.  And as I hit the period, Zimmer goes to the scorer's table.  Wabash will get shots here with 9:31 to go.  First one is no good.  Andy Root is the shooter.  Second shot is good.  16-16 is the score.

8:00 - Aaron Brock scores underneath to give Wabash the lead again at 20-19.

3:56 - Livestats tells me that Franklin is 5-6 on 3s.  5-7 now as one hits the back iron.  Wabash has a decided advantage in the paint but will need to clamp down that perimeter D because Franklin can clearly shoot well. 

1:43 - Brock scores on a great drive to the hoop.  Brock's got a quick first step...I've been impressed with his play all year.  26-21 Wabash. 

1:15 - Maloney is struggling for Wabash.  He's turned the ball over a few times and just went over the back on a rebound.  Franklin will get foul shots as Wabash reaches the penalty.  Good and good.  26-23 Wabash.

Franklin's last possession is well defended and they fail to get off a good shot at the buzzer.  We go to halftime with Wabash leading 26-23. 

[Li'l Giant]

I turned on the Wabash live stream and heard some opera crap. It will make it significantly harder to keep up with the game whilst cooking. Well, thanks Wally for the updates.

[David Collinge]

14:04 - Typing and watching basketball simultaneously is hard.     

You should see Diehardfan do it on her little cellphone gadget.  I can't describe it, except to say that there's a lot of poking of things with a little stick that is attached to it. 

I turned on the Wabash live stream and heard some opera crap.

Opera crap?  OPERA CRAP?!?  In the words of Floria Tosca,
O Scarpia, avanti a Dio!

[Li'l Giant]

Opera crap?  OPERA CRAP?!?  In the words of Floria Tosca,
O Scarpia, avanti a Dio!

I'm not opposed to opera per se. Just not when I expect to hear some hoops action. 

You should see Diehardfan do it on her little cellphone gadget.  I can't describe it, except to say that there's a lot of poking of things with a little stick that is attached to it. 

I'm glad I don't have one that requires a stylus anymore. It's a lot easier with an actual, though tiny, keyboard.

[wally_wabash]

A couple of haltime observations...while Franklin holds a pretty substantial edge in the rebound column, Wabash has been the stronger team inside.  A few of Franklin's offensive rebounds have been the result of wild shots (mostly by Marty Young) that just get too far away from the collapsing Wabash defense.  Speaking of Young, he is Franklin's leading scorer coming in to the game and has been held to zilch thus far.  The Wabash post defenders are really crashing down on him hard and he hasn't had a clean look at the hoop yet.  

For Wabash, Wes Smith only played four minutes before he picked up two fouls and found himself on the bench for the duration of the half.  Brock had a great half with 12 points.  We're about set for the second half...I'll start a new post for the 2nd half chronicle.  

[wally_wabash]

2nd half.....

19:45 - Silly foul by Earl Rooks to start the half.  Franklin nets 1 of 2 free throws.  It seems like every Wabash foul sends Franklin to the line...that's another thing I'd like to see less of in the second half.  26-24 Wabash.

18:14 - More Wabash inside strength as Zimmer makes a strong move on the baseline and gets himself a three point play.  29-24...largest lead of the game for Wabash. 

17:10 - Timeout Franklin.  Wabash is too much for Franklin in the paint.  Wabash has scored pretty easily on their last three possessions as Franklin can't deny the entry pass.  33-26 Wabash. 

15:15 - Young finally gets loose for Franklin and scores a layup.  35-31 Wabash.

14:46 - The response...Brock yanked down a strong offensive rebound and got the stickback along with a foul.  38-31 after the made free throw. 

A quick check of the stats shows me that Wabash is winning the rebound battle here in the second half by a count of 10-1.  That's more like it. 

13:20 - And Wes Smith is on the board wth a layup coming off of, you guessed it, an offensive rebound.  And before I can get that out, Smith steals and gets fouled on his way for another layup.  He makes his charity shots and Wabash stretches it out to a 42-32 lead. 

12:51- Another steal, this time by Haltom.  He gets fouled driving for a layup and will get shots.  44-32 Wabash. 

11:26 - Timeout Franklin.  Wabash has really stepped up their on-ball D in this second half.  Franklin is turning the ball over like if they keep doing it they'll win something.  Franklin's timeout was forced by a Haltom layup which pushes the lead to 46-32.  Wabash is on a pretty big run right here. 

10:00 - Wabash is in control here up 48-33.  Franklin isn't getting many open looks, but they have had a few and they aren't falling like they were in the first half.  Until I said something...Franklin hits a three.  48-36 now. 

7:37 - Timeout Franklin.  Not much to add here...Zimmer is starting to get going now and is up to 9 points.  Franklin is starting to maybe look a little frustrated and Wabash is being pretty physical with the Grizzlies and they don't seem to like it much.  Franklin gets a triple out of the timeout.  50-39 Bash.

3:45 - Franklin is stepping up the pressure here and has closed to within 10 at 53-43.  It's a game of possessions now...so far Wabash has held tight on their perimeter D in the second half. It'll have to continue for the next few minutes here.  Free throws will help.  Zimmer will shoot two here.  Good and....timeout Grizzlies.  54-43 as we sit in a timeout.

Franklin has made just three field goals inside the arc.  Yikes.  Zimmer's second shot is good.  55-43.

As Wabash is icing this game down, I want to thank Brent Harris for helping me connected at Chadwick tonight.  Technology rules. 

0:53 - Franklin has made a couple of buckets here and is within 9 at 57-48.  Brock just fouled a three point shooter (aggressive D, but not really warranted at this point in the game).  Brick.  Good. Good.  57-50.  Wabash will need to make a few free throws here down the stretch. 

0:40 - For some reason Franklin is shooting free throws again.  This is not good end of game strategy for Wabash.  I just noticed the livestats put tonight's attendance at 483.  In a related story, the game program lists Earl Rooks at 5'9".  Free throws galore here.  61-52 Wabash.  30 seconds to play.

And we're all wrapped up here at Chadwick.  Final score Wabash 64, Franklin 58 (Grizzlies got a buzzer beater).