Friday, March 17, 2000
Brossart wins in Sweet 16
Ruth scores 16 points in 47-40 victory
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer contributor
Jeff Clark celebrates Brossart victory.
(Breck Smither photo)
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LEXINGTON — Bishop Brossart High School is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
The boys basketball team celebrated at Rupp Arena on Thursday. Senior guard Scott Ruth's 16 points led the Mustangs to a 47-40 win over First Region champion Graves County in Thursday's opening round of the tournament at Rupp Arena.
The Mustangs take on Fourth Region champion Russellville, a 68-60 winner over 13th Region champion Corbin, in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m. today.
Brossart senior forward Jeff Clark said playing at Rupp reminded him of the pickup games he used to play.
“When I was growing up, it was (former Kentucky star) Jamal Mashburn taking on some Duke player,” Clark said. “If we make (the last shot), the game's over. If we miss, we go to overtime.”
Coach Willie Schlarman talked about how Brossart was ignored among Northern Kentucky teams in the beginning of the year and was ranked seventh in the 10th Region poll. There was also the three losses in four games after holiday exams in December — which caused him to return to 7 a.m. practices for a three-week stretch in January.
“The result has justified all the hard work we've been through,” Schlarman said. “We're living a dream season.”
The dream is also alive today because of Brossart's stingy de fense, especially in the second half.The Mustangs held Graves County to just 17 second-half points and stole 10 passes, including eight in the fourth quarter.
“Our offense wasn't there,” senior forward Justin Seiter said. “We needed steals. Our little guys came through.”
Seiter was talking about 5-foot-6 junior guard Nick Ziegler and 5-3 Jon Lloyd, and they contributed. Ziegler's two 3-pointers pulled Brossart to 31-30 after three quarters; Lloyd had three assists and Ziegler had two steals.
“We call them the Junkyard Dogs because they keep nipping at the heels of their opponents,” Schlarman said.
Graves County (27-4) had the early size advantage. They took a 5-0 lead to open the game led by 6-4 junior center Wes Johnson, who shoots 65 percent from the field. Johnson led the Eagles with 15 points.
Brossart (20-10) came back over the next four minutes. Seiter, whose basket at the buzzer against Mason County sent Brossart to Rupp, scored along with Ryan and senior guard Scott Ruth. The result: a 7-6 Graves County lead six minutes into the quarter.
Ruth's free throw with 41 seconds in the first tied the game at 9-9, but sophomore guard Jason Elliot's 3-pointer from the right corner with a second left and two Nathan Wilkerson baskets three minutes into the second made it 16-9 with 5:45 remaining in the half.
The Mustangs' main problem was they usually got one shot per possession, and the shots mostly missed. Brossart was just 6-of-19 in the first half.
Schlarman decided to put Seiter on Johnson in the second half, and it worked. Johnson managed just three more field goals in the second half, while Seiter grabbed eight rebounds.
“(Seiter) seemed to have the quickness to get around (Johnson),” Schlarman said.
Graves County coach Allen Hatcher offered no excuses.
“They're quicker than we are,” he said. “They'll spread you out.”
Brossart didn't take its first lead until Ryan made it 36-35 with 5:25 left in the game. It clinched the win with an 11-5 run the rest of the way and by holding Graves County scoreless for a 3:09 stretch midway through the period.
Schlarman and the Mustangs intend to enjoy themselves, regardless of what happens today.
“When you figure out how to win basketball games, the magic keeps coming,” Schlarman said. “We just went above cloud nine. I don't know if that's possible.”
BISHOP BROSSART (47) — Ziegler 2-3 0-0 6, Lloyd 0-0 0-0 0, Ruth 5-5 4-4 16, Ryan 3-13 0-0 6, Clark 3-7 2-2 8, Luschek 0-0 1-2 1, Enzweiler 2-2 0-0 4, J. Seiter 3-10 0-0 6. Totals: 18-40 7-10 47.
GRAVES COUNTY (40) — J. Elliott 2-7 0-0 6, Wiles 1-5 0-0 3, Hatcher 2-6 0-0 4, Manning 1-4 0-0 2, James 2-3 0-0 4, Wilkerson 2-8 0-0 4, Johnson 6-6 3-6 15, Hatchell 1-1 0-1 2. Totals: 17-40 3-7 40.
Bishop Brossart ....... 9 7 14 17—47
Graves County ....... 12 11 8 9—40
3-point goals: BB 4-of-12 (Ziegler 2-3, Ruth 2-2, Ryan 0-5, J. Seiter 0-2); GC 3-of-12 (J. Elliott 2-5, Wiles 1-5, Hatcher 0-1, Manning 0-1). Records: BB 20-12, GC 27-4.
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