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| Darin Rhoades leaves as the fourth leading scorer in Buccs history with 1,125 career points. |
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| Dusty Kimmel closed out an outstanding career for the Buccs. |
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Team
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CCC
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ALL
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Covington
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10-1
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16-4
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Bethel
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10-1
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15-5
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Tri-Village
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9-2
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13-7
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Twin Valley South
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8-3
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15-5
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Arcanum
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8-3
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15-5
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Newton
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5-6
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7-13
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Ansonia
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5-6
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8-12
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Franklin Monroe
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4-7
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5-15
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Mississinawa Valley
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3-8
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6-14
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Tri-County North
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3-8
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6-14
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National Trail
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1-10
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1-19
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Bradford
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0-11
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1-19
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March 4, 2006 – PIQUA
By Rob Kiser, Piqua Daily Call
Houston boys basketball coach John Willoughby figured executing a missed free throw would be a simple task.
After all, they had already done it nine times in the fourth quarter alone and 12 times in the game.
With the Wildcats leading Covington 59-58 in a Piqua Division IV sectional final with three seconds left Saturday, Dustin Schwable missed the second of two free throws intentionally.
After the Buccs‚ Dusty Kimmel got the rebounds, Covington without timeouts, was forced to settle for a shot from beyond midcourt by Darin Rhoades. It was about the only thing Rhoades missed in a wild, final 1:33 as Houston claimed its first sectional title since 1999 despite missing 10 of 20 free throws in the fourth quarter and losing an 11-point lead with 1:33 to go.
Houston will play Georgetown in a Dayton Division IV district final at 9 p.m. Friday at U.D. Arena.
"I figured we were doing pretty good on the missed free throws," a relieved Willoughby said with a laugh afterwards. "It shouldn't have been too hard to miss one intentionally. We missed it intentionally because an outlet pass is going to take more time."
Covington coach Roger Craft, wasn‚t surprised what his team did in the last 1:33.
But, he couldn't have been prouder. And it shows what it is that makes this group, that includes five seniors, so special.
"There has never been any quit in those kids," Craft said. "It's been that way since day one with those five seniors. What they showed you tonight, I have seen that time and again. Houston has an outstanding team. We knew, either way, a good team was going to lose tonight. It is just unfortunate we came up on the short end."
Not without an incredible shooting display by Darin Rhoades, before Houston stepped up with two big plays to seal the win.
Houston had kept Rhoades bottled up for 30 minutes...and that almost wasn't enough.
"Before that run at the end, he had made one field goal all game," Willoughby said. "I thought we did a great job on him. We kept wanting to call time out (during Covington's rally) after the free throws to set up our defense. But, we never made the free throws to call timeout."
Rhoades made three straight threes, falling down from awkward shooting positions and scored 12 points to rally Covington from a 52-41 deficit with 1:33 to go.
"The problem he had the ball dribbling down the court at us," Willoughby said. "He hadn't been able to do that all game."
Rhoades was also fouled shooting a three. While he only converted one of the free throws, it turned into a four-point possession when Covington got the rebound and Gene Studebaker hit a three.
That made it 57-56 with 26.7 seconds remaining.
After Matt Mullen converted one of two free throws for Houston, Studebaker scored at the other end to tie it 58-58 with 13 seconds to go.
"We just didn"t hit our free throws," Willoughby said. "It is a shame it came down to the end of the game, but we were able to make the plays when we needed to."
The Wildcats hustled down the floor and Brandon Hughes got open in the paint and was fouled with six seconds remaining.
He converted one of two free throws to make it 59-58 and when he missed, Schwable grabbed the biggest rebound of the game for Houston.
"Dustin (Schwable) came up with a huge rebound," Willoughby said.Craft agreed that was a backbreaker.
"It is just one of those things," Craft said. "The ball bounced long and they were able to get the rebound. That happens."
That set up Schwable's two misses and Covington‚s desperation shot.
"You have to go through situations like this and play in this environment," Willoughby said. "That is why Russia is so good. They have been in these situations and you have to learn from that. That is why this was such a big win for us."
There were several keys for a balanced Wildcats team.
Brian Feathers scored 13 points in the first half, as Covington had to play from behind the entire game, trailing 16-12, 31-26 and 40-34 at the quarter breaks.
Then, Dan Estes, who scored a team-high 19 points, scored 13 in the fourth quarter, including a perfect 6-for-6 from the line.
"Brian (Feathers) hits some big shots early," Willoughby said. "And he played great defense, which is not something he is known for. Dan (Estes) is an aggressive kid. And he really shot the free throws well."
Hughes had 13 points and nine rebounds, Mullen scored 10 points and Schwable grabbed eight rebounds.
Studebaker had 22 points and eight rebounds, including a 13-point first half for Covington.
"Gene (Studebaker) is very capable of that," Craft said.
Rhoades added 17 points, Richard Canan scored 12 and Dusty Kimmel pulled down eight rebounds.
"You hate to see it end, because the seniors have been such a special group," Craft said.
Houston was 21 of 37 from the floor for 57 percent and 11 of 24 from the line for 46 percent. Covington was 19 of 45 from the floor for 42 percent and 12 of 15 from the line for 80 percent.
Houston won the battle of the boards 24-22, but had 11 turnovers to Covington's seven.
In the end , Willoughby pointed to his defense, except for the 17 points Covington scored in the final flurry.
"I know at one time there, they were at 41 points and that is a good offensive team," he said. "We played great defense."
And missed one free throw at just the right time.
BOXSCORE
Covington (58)
Gene Studebaker 9-2-22, Darin Rhoades 4-5-17, Seth Mohler 0-2-2, Richard
Canan 5-0-12, Dusty Kimmel 1-3-5, Nick Meyer 0-0-0, Corey Sprankle 0-0-0, Drew
Craft 0-0-0, Corey Patty 0-0-0. Totals: 19-12-58.
Houston (59)
Matt Mullen 3-2-10, Brian Feathers 5-0-13, Dan Estes 6-6-19, Dustin Schwable
1-0-2, Brnadon Hughes 6-1-13, Brian Jelley 0-0-0, Matt Poeppelman 0-2-2. Totals:
21-11-59.
3-point field goals - Covington: Studebaker (2), Rhoades (4), Canan (2).
Houston: Mullen (2), Feathers (3), Estes.
Score by quarters
Covington .....12.....26....34....58
Houston .......16.....31....40....59
Records: Covington 18-5, Houston 19-4.
