Sunday, March 21, 1999
'Late' tip-in sends Moeller to state
BY CAREY HOFFMAN
Enquirer contributor
DAYTON — Moeller sophomore Matt Sylvester's tip-in at the buzzer sent the Crusaders to a 59-57 victory over Beavercreek Saturday night and the first Final Four in school history.
Sylvester's tip-in, which came off a missed reverse layup by teammate Brad Hutzel, was immediately ruled good by the official at the three-point line.
Neither head coach would comment on whether they thought the tip was late, but Sylvester termed the timing “questionable” and Moeller point guard Mike Monserez, who had a clear look from the perimeter, admitted it was too late.
The win at UD Arena gives Moeller (19-6) the regional Division I championship and sends it to Friday's state semifinals at Ohio State's Value City Arena against Mansfield Senior at 9 p.m..
“I saw the pass to Hutzel and he shot the reverse layup,” Sylvester said. “I thought for sure that was in, but it hit the back of the rim and had a good bounce out so that I could tip it. It happened at practically the same time the horn went off.”
The tip-in capped a remarkable second half for both Sylvester and Moeller. Sylvester scored all 18 of his points after halftime and Moeller used a full-court press to erase a 14-point deficit early in the third quarter with a 14-0 run.
Moeller coach Carl Kremer said he didn't doubt that his team could come back.
“Look at our season,” Kremer said. “Whenever it appears that we're done, we find a way. We lost to St. X by 25 at home, we lose (Brad) Hutzel (due to suspension) at LaSalle for the first two tournament games, everyone thinks we're done. We're down by 14 points with three minutes left against Vandalia Butler, we find a way.”
Moeller's run was fueled by its press and helped along by foul trouble that sent Beavercreek point guard Jamie Holden to the bench.
“That was kind of a wild man press,” Monserez said. “You trap out there when you want.”
“They were like lions looking at raw meat,” said Beavercreek coach Larry Holden, Jamie's father. “They really came after us.”
Beavercreek (25-1) scored the first two baskets of the second half to take a 36-22 lead. But the Beavers would only score one more basket the rest of the quarter while committing eight turnovers. Meanwhile, Sylvester was scoring 11 of Moeller's 18 points in the quarter.
BEAVERCREEK (57) — Holden 4-11 2-3 12, T. Williams 6-9 2-2 19, K. Williams 2-4 0-0 4, Smith 3-4 0-0 7, Renner 7-12 0-0 14, Eldridge 0-0 0-0 0, Kayser 0-0 1-2 1, Bertke 0-0 0-0 0, Siglar 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-40 5-7 57.
MOELLER (59) — Duncan 0-6 1-2 1, Welsch 3-4 2-2 9, Monserez 5- 14 3-3 17, Sylvester 7-12 3-3 18, Hutzel 7-10 0-0 14, Byrnes 0-1 0-0 0, Currin 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 22-48 9-10 59.
Beavercreek ....... 15 17 6 19—57
Moeller ....... 12 10 18 19—59
Three-point goal: B (8-15) - Holden 2-4, T. Williams 5-8, K. Williams 0-1, Smith 1-2; M (6-17) - Duncan 0-2, Welsch 1-2, Monserez 4-11, Sylvester 1-2. Records: M 19-6, B 25-1.
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