Published: March 12, 2008 03:15 am            

BOYS' BASKETBALL: Borden wins first-ever regional, 46-42

ELNORA ’ Smiles, tears, hugs and high-fives ’ everything looked so similar, but the exuberation may have been much greater.

On the floor at North Daviess High School Tuesday, Borden was back doing something it had never done before.

A week after winning the first sectional title in school history, the Braves were back at it, this time winning their first-ever regional title by eclipsing Class A No. 2 Orleans, 46-42.

Tied into the final minute, Borden scored the final four points of the contest for the win, earning another night that will forever live in the annals of town history.

’How ’bout them Braves,’ said Borden head coach Doc Nash, seconds after he was hoisted triumphantly onto the shoulders of BHS students. ’They just never give up, they never think they can’t win and they find ways to win basketball games.’

’Unreal,’ said smiling senior Kaden Nolot. ’Sectionals felt pretty good, but I don’t know how many people thought we’d be partying again after regional.’

Tied at 42 and watching the Bulldogs try to hold the ball over the remaining minutes for what may have been a final shot, Borden junior Michael Chester deflected the ball near midcourt and slid to the ground for the loose ball before calling a timeout with 1:12 remaining.

’We just needed a play,’ said Chester. ’It looked like (Orleans) wanted one last shot, but I was able to get a hand on the ball. Once it was on the floor, I was going to come up with it.’

With the ball back in their possession, the Braves got their biggest basket from their biggest man on the court.

Six-foot-six Nolot received a pass from teammate Drake Potts off an offensive rebound in the low block and dropped the ball in for a 44-42 advantage with a minute to go.

’Give Drake a lot of credit for that one,’ Nolot said. ’He grabbed an offensive board and found me near right where I could do something with it.’

With its ever-so-slight advantage, Borden had to hold on tightly over a frantic final minute to secure the victory.

Orleans worked the ball inside to its 6-6 postman Michael Stroud, who missed a close shot from the right baseline that came down into the hands of Chester, who was immediately fouled.

With the Braves not yet in the bonus situation, they were forced to inbounds. But Orleans forced a Lee Kirchgessner turnover near midcourt with 28.7 seconds to go.

Orleans final attempt at the lead came from senior star Jacob Smith, whose long 3-point attempt from the bench misfired with 20 seconds to go.

Just seconds after his turnover gave the ball back to Orleans, Kirchgessner stepped to the line and sank the clinching two free throws with 11 ticks remaining.

’Lee, he stepped right up to the stripe and made a couple huge shots to put the game away,’ said Nash.

It looked early on like Borden would struggle to be in a position that would require late heroics. Orleans stormed out of the gate, scoring the first six points of the contest while Borden struggled to an 0-for-7 start from the floor.

’We talked about that since we found out we were playing Orleans,’ said Nash. ’We knew after beating them in the regular season, they’d be hungry, they’d be focused and they’d come right at us.’

Enter Chester ’ the junior forward who scored all of his team’s seven points in the opening quarter and kept his team within 10-7 after eight minutes.

’Coach just put me out there and told me I could try to get something going,’ said Chester, who went 3-of-4 from the field in the first period and knocked down a 3. ’We might have been a little tight in the early going so we were looking for somebody to make a play.’

Nash said he got exactly what he expected from his instant-offense junior.

’Michael’s been a spark plug off the bench all year,’ Nash said. ’When we put him on the floor, we know he can put points up in a hurry.’

Nolot scored seven points in the second quarter and Chris Beam canned a pair of 3s in the period to put the Braves in front 24-23 at intermission. Five Borden players scored two points each in the third as Borden pushed its cushion to 34-30 through three.

The Bulldogs rolled off five straight to open the fourth quarter, grabbing a 35-34 lead on a Smith 3-pointer. But Beam answered right back with a 3 of his own to put Borden back in front on the very next possession.

Much of the Braves’ success after halftime stemmed from limiting Smith, the Orleans star who was held to just five of his game-high 20 in the final 16 minutes.

Alex Ooley drew the defensive assignment on the senior, picking up the intensity after halftime and harassing the Bulldog guard into just two field goals in the second half.

’I laid off a little bit before halftime. I didn’t want to get into foul trouble because I’m one of the main ballhandlers,’ said Ooley. ’I went into the second half with no fouls and knew I could play him a lot closer than I had been. I just tried to make shots tougher for him if I could.’

Nash had nothing but praise for Smith following the victory.

’That kid is a player who will make some college very lucky,’ he said. ’He did exactly what we knew he could do ’ he’s a very difficult matchup.’

After the final seconds expired and the two teams finished the customary post-game handshake, another mob scene of Borden fans stormed the floor and set off a celebration nearly 90 years in the making. Players and coaches were hoisted onto the shoulders of students and tears flowed from the faces of fans who had waited a lifetime to see a moment like this in the tiny West Clark town.

’They’ll be remembered for this,’ said Nash. ’I’ll never forget these guys ever in my lifetime and no one in this town will either. I’m proud of them, I’m proud to be a part of it, and I’m ready to start getting ready for a semistate game.’



BORDEN 7 17 10 12’46

ORLEANS 10 13 7 12’42

Borden (20-5) ’ Beam 11, Ooley 5, Nolot 11, Kirchgessner 8, Potts 0, Chester 9, Wagoner 2

Orleans (21-2) ’ Burger 4, Stroud 4, Jac. Smith 20, Johnson 6, Comello 6, Tackett 2, Jo. Smith 0

Three-point field goals ’ Borden 4 (Beam 3, Ooley, Chester); Orleans 2 (Jac. Smith 2)

Rebounds ’ Borden 23 (Nolot 8); Orleans 21 (Comello 5)

Turnovers ’ Borden 9, Orleans 12

        

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