The Versailles Republican
Sports
March 5, 2009
Milan Indians Sectional
#44 hopes wane as final shot rims out
Gary Franklin, Sports
Writer
The 2009 Sectional #44 Class 2A draw seated the Milan
Indian boys varsity basketball team as one half of the
opening act in the North Decatur High School hosted IHSAA
Tournament played at the Greensburg High School gym. Tournament
play began on Tuesday, March 3, and unfortunately ended
that same night for the tribe as they fell to their foe,
the North Decatur Chargers by one point as the final horn
sounded, 45-46.
Coach Peek and the Indians fell in their last regular
season game, played on Friday, February 27, in a home
hosted battle by a two point deficit of 55-57, to the
Union County Patriots. The overall season record for the
tribe at that time was 4-16.
The Chargers on the other hand, as the tribe's first extended
season foe, entered the battle behind sixth year Head
Coach Kyle Nobbe. He and the Chargers ended their regular
season with a 5-15 overall record after collecting their
fifth win of the season in their last game over Southwestern-Shelby
by an 11 point margin at 56-45.
In the early season matchup between the Indians and the
Chargers, hosted by the Indians on November 29 at MHS,
the Chargers evolved victorious by a 13 point margin with
a final score of 63-50.
This night, Coach Peek and the Indians hoped not only
to avenge that loss, but to extend their season to the
next round of sectional action, at the least.
Milan vs North Decatur
Though the opening tip was controlled by the Chargers
with 6' 7" Alex Pulskamp jumping against 6' 4"
Indian Zach Elza at center court, the Indians struck first
with a pair of FG's. The first by Elza and the second
by Alex Walter for the early 4-0 lead. Charger Pulskamp
scored the first FG for them, leading to a 9-8 ND lead
after the first quarter's play.
Indian Grayson Miller added a pair of 3 pointers early
in the second quarter, but steady scoring by the Chargers
advanced their lead to four at 18-14 just under the five
minute mark of the period.
The Chargers extended their lead to eight points at 26-18
before Indian Laub drilled another three pointer from
the deep left side of the court. A pair of Laub FT's near
the end of the period cut the Milan deficit to five at
the halftime break with Milan trailing 23-28.
Quickly as the third quarter unfolded, the Chargers edged
their lead to a 12 point advantage at 35-23 before Indian
teammates Laub and Derek Walker scored back to back FG's,
along with another Laub FG. During the balance of the
period, Indian Laub added another FG, Alex Walter netted
a FG and Zach Elza made one of two FT attempts to the
Chargers making of two FT's bring the score to a two point
contest going into the fourth period, ND 36-34 Milan.
A battle to the end had presented itself as the fourth
and final quarter began. The Chargers scored first with
a Huber FG, countered by Indian Elza's completion of the
old fashioned three point play with a FG and FT combo.
Charger Pulskamp netted a FG, only to be countered by
Indian Grayson Miller. Charger Pulskamp made two FT's,
again only to be countered by Indian Derek Walkers's two
FT makes. Again Charger Pulskamp netted a FG, this time
capped by a pair of Indian senior Jared Ison FT shots.
With the score ND 44-43 and two and a half minutes remaining
in regulation play, ND called a timeout. Following the
timeout, Charger Stephen Speer scored a FG only to be
capped by a pair of FT's by Indian Miller.
The last 1:40 of the game was one of "on your seat's
edge" battling, as timeout by both benches were taken.
Turnovers and missed opportunities as game time was passing
led to Milan having possession for a last shot with under
15 seconds remaining.
Appropriate timing to not give ND a chance to again score
developed, but the Milan shot rimmed out, leaving no time
for them to put back a shot off the rebound back up either,
thus the Chargers advanced and the Indian season ended
in a 45-46 loss to North Decatur.
"Not to hang their heads, this team appears to be
on its way back behind first year Coach Wes Peek's directives."
Score by Quarter
ND 9 - 8 Milan
ND 28 - 23 Milan
ND 36 - 34 Milan
ND 46 - 45 Milan
Milan Indians 45
Sean Laub 13
Grayson Miller 12
Zach Elza 6
Alex Walter 4
Chris Walker 4
Derek Walker 4
Jared Ison 2
Non-scoring Indians were: Bryan Peters, Alex Layden, Ethan
Voss, Michael Brandes, Alec Lauber, Zach Turner and Kurtis
Kimla.
North Decatur Chargers 46
Alex Pulskamp 13
Justin Huber 13
Eric Lusk 9
Truitt Daegar 7
Stephen Speer 4
Non-scoring Chargers were: Anderson Seiter, Quentin Dieckmann,
Andrew Means, Tyler Brown, Derek Moore, Mike Nesbit, Thomas
Speer and Aaron Land.