Shooting woes, foul at the end
You can’t cheer in the pressbox.
And I’ll let you all in on a little sports writing secret we’re not rooting for you. It may seem a little harsh but we’d probably rather see you lose than win because that just decreases our work load the following week during the OHSAA tournament season.
But I’ll have to admit after covering Van Buren their last four games I couldn’t help but pull for them high-top press row at Anderson Arena.
I hate breaking my own rules but I was hoping the Black Knights would make it to state.
Unfortunately the season ended at BGSU.
A bad shooting night doomed Van Buren in its regional final against Holgate Friday night. They shot just 42.9 percent from the field, about 20 points lower than they shot during the regular season.
Also a charging foul on Van Buren junior Matt Phillips, who was heading to the basket with 13.5 seconds left in the game and the Black Knights trailing 35-34, could have been as easily called a blocking foul on Holgate’s Alex Urdiales.
Instead of Phillips, an excellent free throw shooter going to the line to give Van Buren a chance to take the lead, Holgate got the basketball back with a chance to run out the clock.
Van Buren junior Patrick Stacy entered the game and had a chance at a 3-pointer at the buzzer. He never got a good look and had to try and off balance shot that missed the mark.
I asked E.J. Frost about the charging call and he gave me an emphatic “No comment.” after the game. I’m not sure if he was upset at the call or for me asking the question. Because I didn’t know the context of his No comment I left it out of the story. Clearly, Van Buren fans weren’t happy with the charging foul call.
I really thought Van Buren was going to win this game. Holgate wasn’t sharp and committed 17 turnovers against Fort Jennings in the regional semifinals. They took much better care of the basketball against the Black Knights committing just 7 turnovers an they shot 56 percent from the field…the combination of those two factors got the Tigers the win.
Still Van Buren was 22-3 and had a season to be proud of. The tournament run by the Black Knights will be long remembered by their players, coaches and fans.
NEWSWORTHY:
Boys Basketball
Division II
Upper Sandusky shows it has more than Diebler
Upper Sandusky is just a win away from state tournament
Division IV
Holgate nips Knights
Offense helps Holgate beat Van Buren
New Knoxville boys fall in regional final
New Knoxville boys bow out of tournament
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Division I
Late drought dooms Trojans
Findlay’s girls put it all on the line
Findlay Courier: State girls basketball tournament notebook
Stifing defense shuts down Findlay
Returning champs beat Findlay
Division IV
Bozeman’s clutch 3 lifts Nubians over Ottoville
Kruse’s late jumper lifts New Knoxville
New Knoxville wins a thriller
New Knoxville to play for state title
Ottoville falls on last-second shot
Last second shot sinks Ottoville
Africentric eliminates Ottoville
Division III
Ms. Basketball is a major obstacle for St. John’s
And I’ll let you all in on a little sports writing secret we’re not rooting for you. It may seem a little harsh but we’d probably rather see you lose than win because that just decreases our work load the following week during the OHSAA tournament season.
But I’ll have to admit after covering Van Buren their last four games I couldn’t help but pull for them high-top press row at Anderson Arena.
I hate breaking my own rules but I was hoping the Black Knights would make it to state.
Unfortunately the season ended at BGSU.
A bad shooting night doomed Van Buren in its regional final against Holgate Friday night. They shot just 42.9 percent from the field, about 20 points lower than they shot during the regular season.
Also a charging foul on Van Buren junior Matt Phillips, who was heading to the basket with 13.5 seconds left in the game and the Black Knights trailing 35-34, could have been as easily called a blocking foul on Holgate’s Alex Urdiales.
Instead of Phillips, an excellent free throw shooter going to the line to give Van Buren a chance to take the lead, Holgate got the basketball back with a chance to run out the clock.
Van Buren junior Patrick Stacy entered the game and had a chance at a 3-pointer at the buzzer. He never got a good look and had to try and off balance shot that missed the mark.
I asked E.J. Frost about the charging call and he gave me an emphatic “No comment.” after the game. I’m not sure if he was upset at the call or for me asking the question. Because I didn’t know the context of his No comment I left it out of the story. Clearly, Van Buren fans weren’t happy with the charging foul call.
I really thought Van Buren was going to win this game. Holgate wasn’t sharp and committed 17 turnovers against Fort Jennings in the regional semifinals. They took much better care of the basketball against the Black Knights committing just 7 turnovers an they shot 56 percent from the field…the combination of those two factors got the Tigers the win.
Still Van Buren was 22-3 and had a season to be proud of. The tournament run by the Black Knights will be long remembered by their players, coaches and fans.
NEWSWORTHY:
Boys Basketball
Division II
Upper Sandusky shows it has more than Diebler
Upper Sandusky is just a win away from state tournament
Division IV
Holgate nips Knights
Offense helps Holgate beat Van Buren
New Knoxville boys fall in regional final
New Knoxville boys bow out of tournament
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Division I
Late drought dooms Trojans
Findlay’s girls put it all on the line
Findlay Courier: State girls basketball tournament notebook
Stifing defense shuts down Findlay
Returning champs beat Findlay
Division IV
Bozeman’s clutch 3 lifts Nubians over Ottoville
Kruse’s late jumper lifts New Knoxville
New Knoxville wins a thriller
New Knoxville to play for state title
Ottoville falls on last-second shot
Last second shot sinks Ottoville
Africentric eliminates Ottoville
Division III
Ms. Basketball is a major obstacle for St. John’s
posted by --J-- @ 8:56 AM
10 Comments:
At 8:46 PM,
Anonymous said…
I was suprised to read your article today regarding the VB game last night. I saw the Phillips charge call on the highlights last night and it was clearly a charge, no questions. The Holgate kid was square and Phillips ran over him. I think as a reporter, there has to be some accuracy in the article. By reading the article, you make it look like VB got robbed? I also think Holgates defense had something to do with VB's poor shooting, maybe?
Anyway, congrats to VB on a great season, and they may be better next year as they only lose a couple of support players from this year's fine team.
JDee
At 4:52 AM,
Anonymous said…
Great job VB! You represented and did the BVC proud!
At 9:53 AM,
Anonymous said…
JDee: That is why Jamie is the reporter, & you are not. He was there at the game, & saw what most everyone did, including the radio announcers. Even the other ref on the court told him it was a bad call.
The Holgate kid was 50 pounds heavier than Phillips. There is no way Phillips could have run over him. You do not make that call that with 13 seconds to go.
There were many missed opportunities in this game, & hats off to Holgate...
It is just a shame that it came down to a bad call that made the difference in the game, & a trip to state.
Thanks Jamie for your ACCURATE & honest reporting. You reported how you & the majority saw it, & are to be commended. Freedom of Speech.
Congratulations to Van Buren, & Good Luck to all the BVC next year!
At 1:16 PM,
Anonymous said…
VB loset, move on.
At 4:16 PM,
--J-- said…
Didn't try and make it look like VB got robbed. Kind of more like what if. What if the call went the other way?
How many times have we all seen a charge that wasn't or a block that wasn't? I think its one of the most subjective foul calls in basketball and sometimes it all depends on the flop.
Holgate's defense did have something to do with VB's poor shooting and so did the flow of the game...VB never got into a rhythm.
At 9:08 PM,
Anonymous said…
Not sure what being there live would have done. I saw the sideling highlight, about as good of an angle as you'd have on that play. The kid was set, Phillips ran over him. It's a simple as that.
I'd address you by name, but you hide behind anonymous like many do on this blog.
The announcers are at mid court and can see it, Jamie admitted he was in the rafters watching from the press box. Are you going to take the opinion of a guy 200 feet away, or the ref who is about 10 feet away?
Also, I don't think Freedom of the Press was intended for sporting events.
JDee
At 9:10 PM,
Anonymous said…
Sorry, I meant the radio announcers are at half court and do not have a good look at baseline calls.
JDee
At 4:15 AM,
Anonymous said…
VB lost, I wish they had won. Calls like this are part of the game. Time to move on. BB season is over for teams that represent Hancock county, lets look on to the next sport!
At 9:58 AM,
--J-- said…
I do appreciate the feedback from everyone!
Thanks JDee for letting me know that you're posting...actually I should admittedly be deferring to your basketball knowledge...
Everyone knows mine is limited :)
Anyway it was a fine season for Hancock County teams both boys and girls. Baseball, softball and track will be starting soon.
Any anonymous posters, if you can make up a name for yourself or initials and that way other people or I can respond that would be swell if not that's OK too.
At 8:00 PM,
Anonymous said…
I'm not claiming I know more about basketball than anyone else. I just merely stated from the onset that the article made it sound like a questionable call. If that's not a charge, than there isn't on out there.
Again, congrats to VB on a great season, they'll be be a bear next season with many of those guys back.
JDee
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