Friday, March 02, 2001
Dixie Heights moves past Lloyd to finals
By Ray Schaefer
Enquirer contributor
VILLA HILLS — Scott Draud prefers to learn basketball lessons after wins instead of losses. Draud and his Dixie Heights Colonels have at least two more classes.
Sophomore guard Russ Bramlage scored 12 points and his older brother, junior Joe Bramlage, added 10 in a 43-35 win Thursday in the 34th District semifinals at Villa Madonna.
The second-seeded Colonels meet top-seeded Scott for the title at 7:30 p.m. today. Both advance to the Ninth Region tournament next week at Holmes.
Dixie advances to the regional tournament for the first time in four seasons, but the Colonels nearly flunked out Thursday. Lloyd nearly wiped out a 16-point Dixie lead, and the Juggernauts trailed 38-35 with 43 seconds left in the game.
“We certainly played tight,” Draud said. “It was part of the residue of having a big lead. A win's a win.”
Russ Bramlage, meanwhile, talked about avenging a loss to Lloyd in last season's districts.
“We wanted to pay back badly,” he said. “It's a good feeling. I think we're going to start a new tradition, because we're all young.”
The Colonels' (18-9) strategy was to get the ball inside, especially since the Juggernauts had no player taller than 6-foot-2.
And it worked. Dixie jumped to a 12-0 lead just more than three minutes into the game.
Dixie can thank Russ Bramlage and sophomore Doug Jones - Bramlage had seven points, and Jones picked up the rest.
And Lloyd? Nothing until junior forward Michael Hopkins' bucket with 4:21 left in the first period.
Hopkins led all scorers with 19 points.
“We couldn't guard Michael Hopkins,” Draud said.
After Joe Bramlage gave the Colonels a 19-9 lead with 6:32 left in the first half, Lloyd closed to 19-13 two minutes later on field goals from Hopkins and his brother, sophomore guard Myrion.
Which is when Draud took a timeout and switched the Colonels to a 2-3 zone defense.
Dixie had not scored for more than three minutes before the timeout. Afterward, the Colonels finished with a 27-13 halftime lead.
Normally, a zone defense is good news for Lloyd. The Juggernauts try to get the ball inside to Michael Hopkins or senior center Jim Fox, who then send it outside to either senior guard Mike Quinn or junior forward Brett Mullins - which Lloyd has turned into 3-point baskets at a 58 percent clip over the last three weeks.
Not Thursday - Lloyd was just 2-of-21 from long range.
LLOYD (35) — Quinn 0-2 2, Hollenkamp 1-0 2, Fox 1-0 2, Mullins 2 2 8, Michael Hopkins 9 1 19, Myrion Hopkins 1 0 2. Totals: 14 5 35.
DIXIE HEIGHTS (43) — O'Toole 2 2 7, Lonergan 2 3 7, R. Bramlage 5 2 12, J. Bramlage 2 6 10, D. Jones 3 1 7. Totals: 14 14 43.
Lloyd ....... 7 6 10 12—35
Dixie Heights ....... 17 10 8 8—43
Three-point goals: L-Mullins 2; DH-O'Toole. Records: L 10-17, DH 18-9.
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