US falls to Green in heartbreaker

Fate can be fickle, sometimes in a cruel manner.

Fate betrayed University in heartbreaking fashion in its Division I sectional final on Feb.27 against visiting Green.

The Preppers led for 30 of 32 minutes, but lost their lead in the final two minutes and were never able to regain it as Green rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit to pull out a dramatic, 49-48 victory.

Three turnovers in the final minute, including two in the final 11 seconds, doomed the Preppers.

The Bulldogs, a member of the Federal League, advance to face league foe North Canton Hoover in a district semifinal on March 3.

University’s 31-19 halftime lead was reduced to 42-35 as the fourth quarter began. The Bulldogs kept coming, slicing their deficit to 44-43 when junior Trey Martin scored on a steal and runout layup.

University senior Ricky Radtke sank two tree throws to push the lead to 46-43, then both teams had lengthy possessions without scoring before Bulldogs’ junior Zach Oddo scored to again make it a one-point game.

After a Prepper miss, Martin drew a foul and sank both shots to give Green its first lead of the game, 47-46, with 1:54 remaining.

University (13-5) had its chances after that, but couldn’t capitalize. A block by sophomore Nelson Johnson Jr. and rebound by senior Faris Dahman with 37 seconds left resulted in no points. Johnson rebounded a Dahman miss with 17 seconds left, but University turned to ball over with 11 seconds to play.

The Preppers managed to get the ball back after a missed free throw, but

turned it over again with 5 seconds remaining.

University was forced to foul, and Oddo dropped in both shots for a 49-46 Green lead. The Preppers had one last chance to tie. The inbounds pass went to 3-point marksman Dahman, but he was face-guarded closely and passed to Johnson. Johnson converted an open mid-range jumper before the buzzer, but he was well inside the arc, and that left University one point short.

“I’m really proud of our team,” University coach Sean McDonnell said. “The end of any season is heartbreaking for many different reasons. This year in particular, when you get to coach a team like the one I was privileged to coach, you don’t want it to end.”

University was in control throughout the first half, exerting pressure on the Bulldogs’ ball-handlers, scoring off of turnovers, and taking advantage of cold shooting by the visitors (6 of 24 from the field in the first half).

The Preppers scored the game’s first 11 points, and led, 19-6, after a 3 by Sean Scadlock at the end of the first frame. University was 12 of 21 from the field in the first half as it kept Green at arms’ length going into halftime.

“Our guys had a ton of belief,” McDonnell said. “We knew we’d had a good season, and that we belonged in a game like this. To have the first quarter go as it did wasn’t a surprise, but we’re obviously devastated that the lead got away from us as the game went on.”

The six-foot-five Oddo and the speedy Martin were two of the reasons that the Preppers’ lead got away. Oddo scored a gamehigh 23 points, 14 after halftime.