Men's basketball to play in HCAC finals

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By Dan Schumerth, February 27, 2009

The Yellow Jackets of Defiance outmatched the Grizzlies physically, mostly because of six foot, eight inch, 255-pound senior Anthony Pettaway, but Franklin found a way.

“Just look at them. We match up so poorly with Pettaway, we match up so poorly with (Defiance forward Nick) Sales just from a physical standpoint. … When you get down it would be easy to say ‘you know we just match up badly. This is just harder than it ought to be,’” said head coach Kerry Prather.

“To play through that and find a way to win, it’s just an enormous accomplishment.”

The Grizzlies drew first blood and jumped to a 4-0 lead, but did not hold it long. The Yellow Jackets took the upper hand at 14-13, but would give it right back at 16-4. But 18-17 would prove to be Franklin’s last lead of the half.

Defiance jumped out to a seven-point lead at the break with the help of a buzzer-beating jumper by Pettaway, two of his 14 points in the half. He went on to lead the Yellow Jackets with 28 points and 10 rebounds on the night.

The Yellow Jackets seemed to be in control of the game until the scores reached the 40s. At 43-38, freshman Will Conoley hit a layup – for two of his team-leading 17 points on the night – to pull within three. Senior Jared Catron took a charge to put the ball back in the hands of the Grizzlies, when senior John Yochum sunk both halves of a one-and-one, 43-42.

On the next Grizzly possession Yochum hit a jumper to claim the lead for Franklin. It was short-lived, though, as the Yellow Jackets reclaimed the lead at 45-44 and held it for awhile. It was not until senior Jace Redman hit a three-pointer from well beyond the arch (for three of his 16 points on the night) that Franklin was able to tie the score. 51-51 with less than 10 minutes to play.

A Redman steal (from Pettaway) turned into a basket for Conoley, 53-51 with 8:15 remaining, but again it would not last. Defiance would reclaim the lead at 54-53 two possessions later.

Two lead changes later, Defiance lead yet again at 58-57.

It was Yochum who was able to claim the lead that would stick and he did it with two free throws, 65-64. The two teams traded baskets until Franklin led 69-67 with 20.1 seconds left.

Following a timeout, senior Dustin Marshall found a wide open Redman under the basket on the inbounds play to go up 71-67. The Grizzlies got a defensive stop and Redman knocked down two free throws to ice it, making the final 73-67.

Yochum finished the night with 13 points, while Marshall added 11 and Catron eight, along with his seven rebounds. Sales tallied 15 points and eight rebounds for Defiance.

“We battled and battled and battled,” Prather said.  “This is amazing to me. Honestly it’s amazing to me. Not much amazes me but this bunch amazes me.”