By Monty Franks
sports@joplinglobe.com
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Six missed free throws in the final 25 seconds doomed the Northeastern A&M; Golden Norsemen in a 76-75 loss to Indian Hills, Iowa on Friday afternoon in an elimination game of the Men’s Division I NJCAA basketball championships.
“Free throw shooting has been our Achilles Heel all year and it picked a bad time to rear its ugly head,” said Dustin Grover, NEO coach. “You really hate to have your season end in such a difficult way.”
With NEO leading 75-74, freshman Chase Elliott missed both ends of a two-shot foul with 0:28 remaining in the game.
Indian Hills point guard Dwight Hardy canned a 15-foot jump shot with just nine seconds remaining to give the Warriors a 76-75 lead.
On NEO’s next possession, sophomore point guard Dominique Gaines was fouled with a mere 03.5 on the clock. Gaines missed both foul shots.
Golden Norse sophomore forward Kenneth Clayton stole the Warriors’ inbounds pass and was fouled by Christopher Vines as the buzzer sounded.
The officiating crew converged on the scorer’s table and required approximately 10 minutes to determine that the foul occurred before the final buzzer and that 0:01 should be put on the clock.
Clayton stepped to the free throw line and missed both shots as the Indian Hills bench erupted in jubilation.
“We just couldn’t make the shots when we needed them,” Grover said. “But I’m proud of the way our guys played with the heart and determination of a champion.”
The game poorly for NEO. Indian Hills received seven straight points by Dwight Buycks along with a five points by Rico Harris and a layup by LaRon Dendy to build a 14-0 lead in the first five minutes.
“We came out extremely flat and played like we didn’t want to be here,” Grover said. “So I started subbing just to get some enthusiasm going.”
Clayton scored NEO’s first 10 points and Delawn Armwood added a layup to rally the Norsemen to a 16-12 deficit midway through the first half.
After tying the score at 26-26 and 30-30, the Norsemen trailed 31-30 at halftime following a solo free throw by Buycks just before the buzzer.
During the second half, the lead changed hands eight times and featured three ties before the dramatic finish.
Six Golden Norsemen scored in double figures led by Gaines with 15, Reggie Mathis 13, Clayton 12, Tulio Cobos 11, Cicero Gonzaga 10 and Elliott 10.
Hardy connected on 12-of-20, including 6-of-12 from 3-point range, and 6-of-8 at the free throw line for a game-high 36 points for Indian Hills. Buycks contributed 23 points.
Coach Jeff Kidder’s Warriors carry a 27-9 record into today’s 2 p.m. fifth-place game against Eastern Arizona.
NEO, the Region II champion, finished 27-9.
Sports
Free throws doom NEO
- Sports
-
-
Kickapoo girls race past Joplin
Annie Armstrong poured in 21 points to lead the Kickapoo girls to a 65-28 victory over Joplin on Thursday night in an Ozark Conference basketball game at Missouri Southern’s Young Gymnasium.
-
Cheever is ultimate blue-collar snowboarder
As a World Cup snowboardcross racer, Jonathan Cheever has taken his share of spills over the years.
-
District wrestling tournaments begin tonight
Neosho’s wrestling lineup will have a different look when the Class 3 district wrestling tournament begins at 6 p.m. today at Carthage.
-
Late board work carries Lions past Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State displayed its offensive rebounding muscle during Wednesday night’s game at Missouri Southern.
-
Pitching holds key for softball Lions
Pitching is the main question Missouri Southern must answer as the Lions open their softball season today in Abilene, Texas.
-
Quapaw completes 12-0 run through Lucky '7' Conference
Quapaw High School girls basketball coach Rod Graves expected the 2011-12 Wildcats to compile another successful season.
They haven’t been a disappointment. -
Hillsdale women stop OCC
Visiting Hillsdale Free Will Baptist handed Ozark Christian a 68-47 loss in women’s college basketball on Thursday night.
-
Tomlin, Steelers welcome Haley as new coordinator
Throughout the 16 minutes that followed him glowingly introducing former Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley as his new offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stood proudly in the corner of the second-floor media room at the team’s facility.
-
Rangers, Cruz strike $16M, 2-year deal
Two-time defending AL champion Texas has avoided arbitration with another of its core players, agreeing Thursday to a $16 million, two-year contract with AL championship series MVP Nelson Cruz.
-
Auburn’s Ward adapts game after injury at Texas
Auburn’s Varez Ward can’t take to the air quite like he used to. The onetime Texas starter is still trying to regain strength and explosiveness more than two years after rupturing his right quadriceps tendon while dunking during pre-game warmups.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
