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.