Saturday, February 17, 2001
Madeira wins third straight CHL title
Underwood carries Mustangs over Reading 50-49
By Carey Hoffman
Enquirer contributor
Brett Underwood (top left) celebrates with Madeira teammates.
(Mike Simons photos)
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What a way to win a league title: with last-minute free throws by a player who has faced state championship pressure.
Madeira senior center Brett Underwood sank two foul shots with 23.4 seconds remaining, giving the Mustangs a 50-49 victory over Reading at UC's Shoe maker Center that clinched Madeira's third straight Cincinnati Hills League championship.
It was the second time this season Madeira beat Reading by one point.
Madeira (18-2, 12-2 CHL) is ranked No.3 in The Enquirer's Divisions II-IV area coaches poll and No.12 in the Ohio Division III poll. Two years ago, the Mustangs made it to the state final four, with Underwood a key contributor off the bench.
Steve Tudor scrambles for a loose ball.
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“Brett made four huge free throws,” Madeira coach Jim Reynolds said. Underwood also made two foul shots with 1:14 to play. “He's a final-four player. He's been on the line before under pressure.”
Underwood scored all 18 of his points in the second half, including six of Madeira's final eight. “I've learned you just do what you have to do,” said Underwood. “We work on free throws in practice, shoot thousands of them, so all I was thinking about was following my routine.”
Underwood went to the foul line after a controversial tripping call. He hit the ground driving to the lane with 23.4 seconds remaining and Reading ahead 49-48.
Reading's Frank Edwards grabs a rebound from Madeira's Adam Burch.
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Reading had a final possession to try to win the game. But Madeira frustrated two Reading attempts at getting shots in the paint, leaving reserve guard DeShawn Wynn to take a leaning 10-footer that came up short with three seconds to play.
“Our two leading scorers got touches in a high-low situation,” Reading coach Rich Bensman said. “I thought we got a good look at it.”
Reading sophomore Derek Aden was huge down the stretch, scoring three of his team's final four baskets. One came when the 6-foot-5, 245-pound sophomore made a steal in the open court with 40 seconds to play, then converted it into a fast-break layup to put Reading ahead 49-48.
Aden finished with 18 points.
Underwood, Madeira's leading scorer, was held scoreless in the first half. But he scored 10 points in the third quarter, leading Madeira to a 35-29 lead at the quarter's end.
Madeira's Robb Hern pressures Reading's Derek Aden.
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But it could have been worse for Reading. Madeira had just scored five quick points in the final minute of the third quarter to take a 35-27 lead, and had the ball. But a Madeira 3-point attempt missed and Aden got a stickback in the final second of the quarter.
“Our kids picked it up a little bit. We guarded a little bit,” Bensman said.
Underwood just managed to stay in the game despite having four fouls in the closing seconds. “They're unique. They are all big, physical players (inside),” he said of the Blue Devils.
Madeira, the No.1 seed in the Sycamore Division III sectional, is in the upper bracket. Reading is seeded No.2 and is in the lower bracket. The teams will meet again if both reach the regional semifinals March 15.
READING (49) - Aden 8 2 18, Brady 3 1 8, Brinck 1 2 4, Edwards 3 0 8, Lawson 1 0 2, Wilking 1 3 5, Wynn 2 0 4. Totals: 19 8 49.
MADEIRA (50) - Tuke 3 0 6, S. Tudor 4 0 12, Burch 1 2 5, Luther 1 0 2, Spence 1 0 2, Hern 2 1 5, Underwood 7 4 18. Totals: 19 7 50.
Reading ....... 8 9 12 20—49
Madeira ....... 13 5 17 15—50
3-point goals: R - Brady, Edwards 2; M - Tudor 4, Burch. Records: R 16-4 (11-3 CHL), M 18-2 (12-2 CHL).
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Madeira wins third straight CHL title