Jac-Cen-Del coach Clint Bohman said it was going to take a really good team to beat his Eagles. Unfortunately for JCD, they met up with one such team in North Daviess at Saturday’s 1A South Semi-State in Seymour. The second-ranked Cougars beat the 10th-ranked Eagles 60-47.
It was a great atmosphere inside the Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium. Both programs filled their quarter of the 8200-seat facility while fans from Eastern Hancock and Providence continued to fill up their portions for the 2A contest as the 1A Final Four game played on.
ND won this game with defense and by protecting the basketball. The Eagles hit a solid 50 percent from the floor but were held to a season-low 47 points and the Cougars committed just one turnover.
The Osgood guys played well, but the kids from Elnora played better. Jac got several deflections and tips but could never get the clean takeaways to make a difference.
The Eagles only lead came on a Devin Grieshop triple to start the game. The two clubs tied at three and five, then the Cougars led the rest of the way. It was 10-7 after one and 23-18 at the half.
Wyatt Day’s eight points and six by Grieshop were tops for the Eagles through two periods. Jaylen Mullen and Markus Britton both had six for the Cougars.
Shooting percentages in the first half were nearly identical, but ND took advantage of five additional chances due to a plus-two advantage in offensive rebounds and a minus-three advantage in turnovers.
A 7-0 run late in the third quarter propelled North Daviess to an 11-point lead, its biggest of the game. Jac got the final field goal of the frame and but still trailed 37-28 with eight minutes to go.
The Eagles continued to claw and scratch their way back to get within one with just under 3:30 remaining. But that tremendous effort was seemingly wiped out in a matter of seconds as an and-one play, a steal and score followed by an offensive putback led to seven quick Cougar points.
That was just the beginning of what became a 17-5 North Daviess semi-state clinching run to claim it’s first-ever trip to the state finals.
The Cougars final 10 points all came on foul shots forced by Jac-Cen-Del. ND was 14-of-19 at the line for the game including 11-of-15 in the fourth quarter. JCD was perfect at the stripe but only had four attempts.
ND had a 23-16 advantage in rebounds including a plus-five edge offensively. The Eagles committed just eight turnovers but were only able to force one against the Cougars.
Jac was 18-of-36 (50 percent) from the floor. North Daviess made 23-of-43 (53 percent).
Mullen’s 16 points, 13 by Stickles and nine via Logan Wilson were best for North Daviess.
Day’s 20 topped the Eagle scoring ledger. Grieshop turned in 11 while Matt Dickman and Caleb Simon scored seven each.
It was an incredible season for second-year coach Bohman and the Eagles who finish the year at 22-6. That included Ripley County, ORVC, sectional (14th) and regional (fifth) championships plus a 12-game winning streak from early February up through the regional.
Coach Brent Dalrymple (22nd season) and his Cougars are now 26-3 and will meet No. 11 Lafayette Central Catholic on Saturday, March 26 at 10:30 am in Indy. The 20-9 Knights beat No. 1 Gary 21st Century 68-65 in overtime for the 1A North Semi-State played at Lafayette Jeff.
We thank Seymour AD Kirk Manns and media coordinator Jay Hubbard for the accommodations and hospitality. We thank Jac-Cen-Del coach Clint Bohman for his information and time in our postgame show plus North Daviess coach Brent Dalrymple and assistant John Mullen for their information.