For the week of February 19 - 25, 2003

Intense game swings
to Carey 45-41

Northside champs again

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Intensity was everywhere Monday when Carey School and The Community School of Sun Valley went head-to-head in the Northside Conference boys’ basketball tournament title game at Shoshone.

Much was at stake—a berth in the State 1A tournament—and both teams wanted it badly. Bodies flew around the floor for loose balls and there was quite a bit of banging down low. There were nine ties and six lead changes.

In the end, #3-ranked Carey (18-2) extended its winning streak to 15 games with a 45-41 victory. It was Carey’s first Northside tournament championship since 1999 and only the second since Carey won back-to-back flags in 1993-94.

Senior Shawn Hennefer (15.9 ppg) scored 9 of his game-high 16 points plus 7 rebounds in the tightly-played fourth quarter as Carey hammered the ball at the basket trying to draw fouls. Three Cutthroats ended up fouling out in the final eight minutes.

That was Carey’s game plan, according to coach Dick Simpson. He said, "We’ve got to go inside to establish our outside game. We didn’t do it in the first half. It helped to get them in foul trouble."

Carey’s defense, holding opponents to 45.2 ppg, had a little more gas in the tank. "We thought that if we could get 32 minutes of pressure defense we could win the game. We seemed to have more legs at the end," Simpson said.

Simpson said the league championship—and eighth state berth in 11 years—means a lot to the city of Carey. It’s a steppingstone to a bigger goal. "We hope to bring a state trophy home," said Simpson. Carey was second in the state tourney in 2001.

Meanwhile, The Community School (13-8) saw its five-game winning streak come to an end—despite holding high-scoring Carey (59.9 ppg) to its lowest total this season.

Cutthroat coach Mike Wade said, "Before the game we made a decision to leave it all between the lines, and our guys did just that. We worked so hard and were so intense. Our guys played with a lot of heart. They wanted it badly."

The Cutthroats tried to regroup Tuesday night for another important game—a loser-out contest against Shoshone. Tuesday’s winner will join Carey at state. And Tuesday’s loser goes home.

But on Monday night, both Carey and The Community School played like it was their final game of the season.

Carey’s biggest leads were seven points in the first quarter and eight in the third. On both occasions the Cutthroats fought back. Ethan Weston (10 of his 14 points after half, plus 5 rebounds) had three big baskets fueling a 9-1 third-quarter run for a 23-23 deadlock.

Steadily piling up personals after having none at half was inside threat Jim Fairchild (11.9 ppg). Fairchild passed to Weston for a 14-footer baseliner giving the Cutthroats a 31-29 lead in the fourth, but then Fairchild fouled out with 4 points, 6 rebounds, 7 steals, 4 assists and 2 blocked shots.

Wade said, "Jim was solid in the first half and a real factor for us in the lane. Then he started picking up fouls and got cautious. It hurt not having Jim but the other guys stepped up and played well."

Luc McCann (7 points, 4-for-4 free throws) hit two charities, then Weston made two free throws for a 37-35 Cutthroat lead with 3:23 left.

Playing with quiet strength was Carey’s John Saili (10 points, 8 rebounds), who got good rebounding position, drew Weston’s fourth foul and hit a free throw for a 37-36 game. Robbie Ellsworth stole the ball and Hennefer finished a transition basket, then Saili made a basket off an inbounds pass for a 40-38 Carey lead.

Cutthroat leading scorer John Hayes (15 points) roared down the lane for a layup and 40-40 tie with 1:25 left. But Hennefer, who disdained his usual outside shot for drives down the lane, went hard to the hoop, caught a Saili pass and was fouled. He made one.

Saili made another charity on Weston’s fifth foul, Hennefer drilled two more and sweet-shooting Ty Simmons (14 points, 7 boards) iced the victory with a closing free throw.

Blake Surerus added 5 points, 8 boards and 2 assists for Carey, and Destry Simpson chipped in 4 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists. For the Cutthroats, Dylan McIlhenny had 1 point, 7 rebounds and 5 steals, and Josh Sonneland 6 boards and 2 assists.

Carey’s next game is Thursday, Feb. 27 against the Southside Conference champion, for state seeding.

 

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