The United Way 6th Grade Boys Basketball team took revenge upon the only team that had beaten them this season by defeating Crites Title Company 38-33 in overtime in the double elimination tournament on Saturday, March 7, 2009, held at Riddle Elementary School.
Both teams seemed a bit nervous as they squared off in the opening period. Daniel Ferguson, who along with teammate Malik Joyner, led his team with 16 points, scored the first basket of the game to give United a 2-0 lead. United increased its lead to 7-4 as Daniel scored all of United's points, but as the period came to a close Crites hit a basket as time was running out to tighten things up and United held a 7-6 lead.
The 2nd quarter saw United's defense give up several easy baskets down low as their slim 1 point lead evaporated quickly, replaced by an 11 point deficit as Crites mounted a 14-0 run to take an 18-7 lead before timeout was called at the 2:45 mark of the period. The coaches for United told the players to play their game, and not to give up on themselves. When the halftime buzzer sounded, United had scored two more baskets while limiting Crites to just one lone free throw, but United found themselves on the deficit side of a 19-11 score.
The United players were very down and disappointed at their performance, but their coaches encouraged them again not to give up on themselves. They were told to still attack the basket, and play defense like they have been taught: stink on skunk! Daniel Ferguson had picked up his third foul in the second period so he had to sit out the entire 3rd quarter, and since Malik had not scored up to this point the boys still looked very downcast. United's coaches, however, told the boys they were going to come back and win, because they were the better team. They also told Malik not to focus on his not scoring in the first half, but to just play his game because the points would come, and they did, because Malik had a fantastic second half, scoring out in the process.
The 3rd quarter began, and Malik Joyner found his stroke again, working the ball well inside and drawing fouls. United outscored Crites 11-6 in the period, which was the best 3rd quarter put together by the United team all season long, and the United players came storming to the bench exuberantly as the quarter closed, trailing now only by a score of 25-22. The coaches told the boys they were going to win this game because we own the 4th quarter. Daniel Ferguson, with three fouls, went back into the game, and with both he and Malik hitting from the charity stripe, United outscored Crites 7-4 in the 4th period to tie the score at the end of regulation 29-29.
United played very well defensively in the 4th period and in overtime. They outscored Crites 9-4 in the extra period. Landon Crary made the shot of the day for United as he connected on a magnificent up-and-under, fade away, semi-hook shot that banked in off the glass to give the United squad the lead which they never again relinquished. What made it even better was that Landon was the smallest player on the court but he had managed to pull down his own offensive rebound from his missed attempt from the floor as he crashed the board to grab his errant shot.
This was the third time this season in six games that United has trailed after three periods of play by 3 points and came away with the victory. In each of these games they have also given up a basket to go down by 5 in the 4th quarter, only to come roaring back as their defense put a clamp down strangle hold on their opponents, stifling their opponents' ball handling ability and causing turnover after turnover. United handled the ball the best they have all season, committing only 5 turnovers themselves against a very good defensive team, which included one coming on an offensive foul called on Malik Joyner as he was driving to the hoop. However, poor shooting pretty much offset their excellent ball handling as United was an abysmal 22% from the field, connecting on only 11 of 50 shots. They did, however, hit the boards well again, grabbing 44 rebounds, pulling down 22 on offense and 22 on the defensive end.
The difference in the game came at the free throw line. Per their coaches instructions, the United players kept taking the ball to the hoop, forcing their opponents to foul them. Crites had two players foul out of the game while United only committed 11 team fouls, with 4 of these coming from Daniel Ferguson, and 3 from Malik Joyner.
Both teams seemed a bit nervous as they squared off in the opening period. Daniel Ferguson, who along with teammate Malik Joyner, led his team with 16 points, scored the first basket of the game to give United a 2-0 lead. United increased its lead to 7-4 as Daniel scored all of United's points, but as the period came to a close Crites hit a basket as time was running out to tighten things up and United held a 7-6 lead.
The 2nd quarter saw United's defense give up several easy baskets down low as their slim 1 point lead evaporated quickly, replaced by an 11 point deficit as Crites mounted a 14-0 run to take an 18-7 lead before timeout was called at the 2:45 mark of the period. The coaches for United told the players to play their game, and not to give up on themselves. When the halftime buzzer sounded, United had scored two more baskets while limiting Crites to just one lone free throw, but United found themselves on the deficit side of a 19-11 score.
The United players were very down and disappointed at their performance, but their coaches encouraged them again not to give up on themselves. They were told to still attack the basket, and play defense like they have been taught: stink on skunk! Daniel Ferguson had picked up his third foul in the second period so he had to sit out the entire 3rd quarter, and since Malik had not scored up to this point the boys still looked very downcast. United's coaches, however, told the boys they were going to come back and win, because they were the better team. They also told Malik not to focus on his not scoring in the first half, but to just play his game because the points would come, and they did, because Malik had a fantastic second half, scoring out in the process.
The 3rd quarter began, and Malik Joyner found his stroke again, working the ball well inside and drawing fouls. United outscored Crites 11-6 in the period, which was the best 3rd quarter put together by the United team all season long, and the United players came storming to the bench exuberantly as the quarter closed, trailing now only by a score of 25-22. The coaches told the boys they were going to win this game because we own the 4th quarter. Daniel Ferguson, with three fouls, went back into the game, and with both he and Malik hitting from the charity stripe, United outscored Crites 7-4 in the 4th period to tie the score at the end of regulation 29-29.
United played very well defensively in the 4th period and in overtime. They outscored Crites 9-4 in the extra period. Landon Crary made the shot of the day for United as he connected on a magnificent up-and-under, fade away, semi-hook shot that banked in off the glass to give the United squad the lead which they never again relinquished. What made it even better was that Landon was the smallest player on the court but he had managed to pull down his own offensive rebound from his missed attempt from the floor as he crashed the board to grab his errant shot.
This was the third time this season in six games that United has trailed after three periods of play by 3 points and came away with the victory. In each of these games they have also given up a basket to go down by 5 in the 4th quarter, only to come roaring back as their defense put a clamp down strangle hold on their opponents, stifling their opponents' ball handling ability and causing turnover after turnover. United handled the ball the best they have all season, committing only 5 turnovers themselves against a very good defensive team, which included one coming on an offensive foul called on Malik Joyner as he was driving to the hoop. However, poor shooting pretty much offset their excellent ball handling as United was an abysmal 22% from the field, connecting on only 11 of 50 shots. They did, however, hit the boards well again, grabbing 44 rebounds, pulling down 22 on offense and 22 on the defensive end.
The difference in the game came at the free throw line. Per their coaches instructions, the United players kept taking the ball to the hoop, forcing their opponents to foul them. Crites had two players foul out of the game while United only committed 11 team fouls, with 4 of these coming from Daniel Ferguson, and 3 from Malik Joyner.
Landon Crary may have made the shot of the game, but Daniel Ferguson had a very close second. In the opening period Daniel grabbed the ball down low as he hauled down an offensive board as he was surrounded by Crites players. He was swarmed by these four defenders from Crites along the baseline, and Daniel manged to get up in the air, corkscrew his body in his flight and somehow bank in the shot off the glass, all the while being fouled by Austin Warrem. Daniel then completed the 3 point play by hitting his free throw to give United a 7-4 lead at the time.
It was an intensely played game from start to finish with adrenaline running high on both sides, to say the least, with a, shall we say, very boisterous crowd in attendance. Daniel Ferguson was fouled intentionally in the overtime period after stealing the basketball, getting hit vigorously on purpose from behind by Jesse Smyser. Daniel went to the floor hard, incurring a pretty good floor burn on his knee in the process. He air-balled his first offering but he sank his next rainbow shot, hitting nothing but the bottom of the net, extending United's lead to 5. United also followed this by scoring on their subsequent possession, giving them their largest lead of the contest at 7 points.
Daniel Ferguson was 8 for 10 from the free throw line for the game, while Malik Joyner went 8 for 11. All in all, United was 16 for 23 from the stripe, which was very good, especially considering they lost the first game due in large part to their not converting their free throw opportunities.
United's next game is on Saturday, March 14 at Riddle Elemenatary School at 11:00 AM versus the #2 seed, Blue Cross / Blue Shield, who will be seeking to avenge their only loss of the season coming at the hands of United. United won 32-26 in their previous meeting on February 14. Blue Cross defeated #3 seed Gardner Whitworth 33-16 to advance to the next round. Earlier in the day Gardner knocked off #6 seed Rural King 23-17.
Rural King was eliminated by Crites who defeated Rural King 38-26. Rural King ends their season with a disappointing record of 0-7. In the other loser bracket game, #4 seed Conlin Home Inspection knocked off #3 seed Gardner Whitworth 40-33, setting up a rematch of the tournament's opening game. Earlier in the day Conlin lost to #5 Crites 32-22. Their rematch is set for noon on Saturday, March 14 following the game between #1 United and #2 Blue Cross.
Any one of these teams are capable of winning this tournament as the teams are well-balanced and all of them are very loaded talent-wise. It will be nice to see these boys playing together on a team as they move through junior high and high school in the upcoming years. Things are looking up for Mattoon basketball!
It was an intensely played game from start to finish with adrenaline running high on both sides, to say the least, with a, shall we say, very boisterous crowd in attendance. Daniel Ferguson was fouled intentionally in the overtime period after stealing the basketball, getting hit vigorously on purpose from behind by Jesse Smyser. Daniel went to the floor hard, incurring a pretty good floor burn on his knee in the process. He air-balled his first offering but he sank his next rainbow shot, hitting nothing but the bottom of the net, extending United's lead to 5. United also followed this by scoring on their subsequent possession, giving them their largest lead of the contest at 7 points.
Daniel Ferguson was 8 for 10 from the free throw line for the game, while Malik Joyner went 8 for 11. All in all, United was 16 for 23 from the stripe, which was very good, especially considering they lost the first game due in large part to their not converting their free throw opportunities.
United's next game is on Saturday, March 14 at Riddle Elemenatary School at 11:00 AM versus the #2 seed, Blue Cross / Blue Shield, who will be seeking to avenge their only loss of the season coming at the hands of United. United won 32-26 in their previous meeting on February 14. Blue Cross defeated #3 seed Gardner Whitworth 33-16 to advance to the next round. Earlier in the day Gardner knocked off #6 seed Rural King 23-17.
Rural King was eliminated by Crites who defeated Rural King 38-26. Rural King ends their season with a disappointing record of 0-7. In the other loser bracket game, #4 seed Conlin Home Inspection knocked off #3 seed Gardner Whitworth 40-33, setting up a rematch of the tournament's opening game. Earlier in the day Conlin lost to #5 Crites 32-22. Their rematch is set for noon on Saturday, March 14 following the game between #1 United and #2 Blue Cross.
Any one of these teams are capable of winning this tournament as the teams are well-balanced and all of them are very loaded talent-wise. It will be nice to see these boys playing together on a team as they move through junior high and high school in the upcoming years. Things are looking up for Mattoon basketball!
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