Saturday, December 04, 1999
McNicholas 54, Walnut Hills 43
Rockets' victory a team effort
BY CAREY HOFFMAN
Enquirer contributor
Just a month after the end of its football season, McNicholas introduced two-platoon basketball on Friday night.
The Rockets, ranked No.1 in the Enquirer's Division II-IV coaches poll, five times substituted their entire lineup in wearing down host Walnut Hills 54-43 in the season opener for both teams.
“I don't like playing a platoon system,” McNicholas coach Jerry Doerger said. “But I think putting guys out there three or four minutes at a time is how we have to play. We'll play defense, play all over the floor and try to wear people down.”
McNick lost seven seniors who were the mainstays on last year's Division II regional finalist team. Senior Adam Schneider, who saw very little time a year ago, stepped up Friday with 18 points.
Schneider made big plays to put McNick back in control after Walnut Hills took its only lead of the second half 30-28 midway through the third quarter.
He came from behind to block a dunk attempt by Walnut Hills star Josh Hardin on a breakaway with 2:20 left in the quarter. That ignited McNick, which hadn't scored in its eight previous possessions. Schneider hit a 3-pointer, then two layups and Paul Sheehy hit a 3-pointer just before the period buzzer to put McNick back in command, 38-32.
“I think the game turned when they blocked that dunk and then hit that three,” Walnut Hills coach Mike Herald said.
“The block got our confidence back,” Schneider said. “We were up, our fans were up and we began executing plays like we should.”
The loss overshadowed a strong effort by Walnut Hills' Hardin. The 6-4 senior had 21 points, including all 11 his team scored in the first quarter and did a little bit of everything.
“He's a candidate for Player of the Year in the city, I believe,” Herald said. “Defensively, he must have had close to double digits in steals.”
Walnut Hills played without injured starting center Nick Montgomery, who will return next week.
McNICHOLAS (54) — Hensley 1 0 2, Cupito 1 0 2, Schneider 6 4 18, Sheehy 3 2 10, Popelar 0 2 2, Lawhon 0 2 2, Brothers 3 0 6, Peery 3 0 6, Chrin 2 1 6. Totals: 19 11 54.
WALNUT HILLS (43) — Blair 4 0 8, Hardin 9 2 21, James 1 0 3, Robinson 3 0 7, Williams 1 0 2, Wilson 1 0 2. Totals: 19 2 43.
McNicholas ....... 12 11 15 16—54
Walnut Hills ....... 11 11 10 11—43
Three-point goals: M — Schneider 2, Sheehy 2, Chrin; WH — Hardin, James, Robinson. Records: M 1-0, WH 0-1.
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