Sunday, March 12, 2000
Mason escapes regional upset
Comets make state tourney, face East Tech
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Mason's Jere' Issenmann, Michelle Munoz and Beth Jones rejoice.
(Michael E. Keating photo)
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FAIRBORN — Flashbacks of the 1999 Division I regional championship game against Beavercreek crossed the mind of Racquel Ellis, Mason's senior point guard, during the overtime.
“I said to myself, "Here we go again,'” Ellis said. “Last year, I hit a bunch of free throws in the fourth quarter and also blocked a shot late in the game.”
It was Ellis who rescued the Comets again, converting six of eight free throws in overtime, giving Mason a 52-49 victory over Beavercreek in a regional championship game at Wright State University.
Michelle Munoz led Mason with 23 points and eight rebounds.
In a 52-46 victory over Beavercreek last year, Ellis was 6-of-6 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter and blocked Michelle Miller's 3-point attempt with two minutes remaining to turn the game around.
Beavercreek coach Ed Zink explained why Ellis was fouled.
“The (Jere') Issenmann girl sank 10 of 10 in the fourth quarter during the regular-season game,” Zink said of his team's matchup with Mason in December. “We also knew that Munoz and (Beth) Jones were outstanding shooters. I don't think you're allowed to foul someone on the bench.”
Mason advances to the Division I state semifinals for the third time in the last four years. The Comets meet Cleveland East Tech at 9 p.m. on Friday at Ohio State's Schottenstein Center.
Jones, Mason's second leading scorer with a 14-point average, was held scoreless from the field (0-of-10) and scored only five points.
“Beth was off today but luckily we have enough peo ple who can step up and carry us,” Mason coach Gerry Lackey said. “All that matters is we got the victory and we're going back to Columbus.”
Seldom-used senior center Jenny Imbus and junior forward Issenmann also game up with crucial plays for Mason in overtime.
Taking a pass from Ellis on the baseline 30 seconds into the extra period, Imbus scored, was fouled and sank the free throw, pushing Mason into a lead it never relinguished.
“That was a big play because it put us behind by three,” Zink said. “But Issenmann grabbing the rebound after the missed free throw was even bigger.”
Issenmann, who missed two free throws with 30.7 seconds left and Mason leading 50-49, wasn't boxed out, and grabbed the ball when it kicked off the front of the rim.
“I knew the ball was short because I rushed the shot,” Issenmann said. “Instinct told me to go for it.”
Issenmann passed to Ellis, who was fouled and sank two free throws with 23.8 seconds remaining that proved to be the game-clinchers.
Beavercreek was in position to tie with a 3-pointer, but Issenmann blocked a shot with 20.6 seconds remaining and Munoz knocked the ball out of bounds with 1.2 seconds remaining.
A 3-point attempt by Beavercreek's Emily Williams at the buzzer was well off the mark.
Trailing 40-36 with 2:01 re maining in the fourth quarter, Beavercreek elected to foul. Ellis missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Jones sank two of three foul shots that gave Mason a 42-39 lead.
This set the stage for a game tying 3-pointer by Beavercreek's Emily Williams at the end of regulation.
Imbus, who seldom starts for the Comets, played nearly the entire game, coming up with five points and six rebounds.
“I was a little concerned with Beavercreek's size and that's why Jenny was in there,” Lackey said. “I was a little concerned that our girls were tired at the end, because Jere', Michelle, Jenny and Beth never came out of the game.”
In two previous appearances in the state's final four, Mason won its semifinal games but lost in the championship to Wadsworth (1997) and Pickerington (1999).
The other semifinal game, at 7 p.m. Friday, has Parma Holy Name playing Pickerington, the defending state champion.
BEAVERCREEK (49) — Webb 2-6 2-3 7, Williams 4-10 4-7 14, Gardner 3-7 2-3 8, Kaiser 2-5 0-0 4, Music 0-2 0-0 0, Bales 5-7 6-8 16. Totas: 16-37 14-21 49.
MASON (52) — Ussenmann 4-9 0-2 11, Munoz 10-14 3-4 23, Imbus 2-5 1-1 5, Lippert 0-0 0-0 0, Jone 0-10 5-7 5, Ellis 0-1 8-13 8. Totals: 16-39 17-27 52.
Beavercreek ....... 11 12 10 9 7—49
Mason ....... 14 10 13 5 10—52
3-pointers: B 3-13 (Williams 2, Webb). M 3-15 (Issenmann 3). Rebounds: B 26 (Gardner 6). M 30 (Munoz 8, Imbus 7). Assists: B 10 (Music 4). M 13 (Lippert 6 ). Steals: Beavercreek 7, Mason 6. Turnovers: B 11, M 10. Records: 23-3, Mason 25-0.
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