Sunday, March 18, 2001
Bacon close again, but no beating Alter
By George Schutte
Enquirer Contributor
FAIRBORN — For the third time this season, Roger Bacon fell four points short of beating Kettering Alter.
With 6.8 seconds to play, Alter senior forward Jeff Penno sank two free throws to give the Knights a 58-54 win over Greater Catholic League rival Roger Bacon in the Division II regional final at Wright State's Nutter Center.
“Whenever I shoot free throws, they're all the same,” Penno said. “After I made the first one, I wanted to make the second to put the game out of reach.”
Alter won the game at the foul line, making 20 of 29 while Roger Bacon converted just eight of 17.
“Free throws were the difference in the game,” Roger Bacon coach Bill Brewer said. “We make five more, and it's a different story.”
Alter advances to play Columbus East at 6p.m. Thursday at Ohio State's Schottenstein Center.
Alter led by as many as nine (53-44) with 1:21 to play in the game, but the Spartans battled back.
Frank Phillips scored five points and Josh Hausfeld added a 3-pointer in the final minute to pull to 56-54 with 9.2 seconds.
On the subsequent inbounds, Penno was fouled and sent to the line.
“That's how you win a big game at the free throw line,” Alter coach Joe Petrocelli said. “It's difficult to prepare for pressure throws, but Jeff is who we want on the line in that situation.”
The game was just about even in every other category, with the Spartans matching Alter on the boards with 25 rebounds.
Alter built a 21-10 lead midway through the second quarter behind the shooting of Dave Kohls, Jeff Penno and Dave Penno.
Roger Bacon was able to cut the lead to nine at halftime with baskets by Casey Land and Mike Meridy.
The Spartans opened the third quarter with an 8-3 run fueled by two baskets each from Hausfeld and Phillips.
“In the first half, we were playing tentative,” Brewer said. “We weren't guarding, passing or shooting the ball well. A lot of that is due to what Alter does, though.”
Roger Bacon was able to cut the lead to 32-30 before Kohls hit a short jumper with 7.7 seconds to play in the quarter to push the lead to four.
“We don't want it to be any closer than that (four points),” Petrocelli said. “It was just about the same type of game for all three matchups.”
Kohls and Jeff Penno each finished with 14 points for Alter.
Hausfeld, playing on an injured ankle, and Phillips each scored 15 for the Spartans.
ROGER BACON (54) — Huerkamp 2-3 0-0 4, Phillips 6-11 3-6 15, Land 1-2 0-2 2, Meridy 4-5 2-4 10, Hausfeld 5-14 3-4 15, St. Clair 4-5 0-1 8. Totals: 22-49 8-17 54.
ALTER (58) — Jones 3-6 1-2 9, Kohls 4-8 6-10 14, Waleskowski 3-8 3-4 9, J. Penno 4-7 5-6 14, Laumann 1-3 3-3 5, D. Penno 2-4 2-4 7. Totals: 17-36 20-29 58.
Roger Bacon ....... 4 10 16 24—54
Alter ....... 12 11 11 23—58
3-Pointers: R 2-14 (Hausfeld 2), A 4-9 (Jones 2, J. Penno, D. Penno). Rebounds: R 29 (Phillips 6, Meridy 6), A 25 (Kohls 8). Records: A 23-2, R 18-8.
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Bacon close again, but no beating Alter
