Third-quarter surge powers Colonel Crawford past Lucas for another OHSAA district title
WILLARD — A two-minute stretch in the third quarter changed everything about Friday's Division IV district final between No. 1 Colonel Crawford and No. 2 Lucas.
Trailing 22-21, the Eagles ripped off a 10-0 run for a dramatic momentum shift. And with both teams boasting stifling defenses, nine points at the time seemed like 20. Colonel Crawford pushed the lead to as many as 12 in the fourth quarter before closing out a 59-49 win.
“It was really big," Colonel Crawford coach David Sheldon said of the run. "We went on a great run and it was stop, score, stop. We got the lead and were able to hold onto it. But give Lucas credit — they kept attacking until the end. Those kids aren’t going to quit until that buzzer sounds. Fortunately because of that 10-0 run we had a big enough lead.”
Colonel Crawford advanced to a regional semifinal Tuesday night at the Canton Memorial Fieldhouse against Dalton, which upset Warren JFK 71-58.
It was the Eagles' second consecutive district championship after winning a title in Division III last year en route to a regional runner-up finish. And it was the team's second win over Lucas this year after having edged the Cubs in the regular season on the road.
“There was so much pressure on this team," Sheldon said. "Following one of the most successful teams ever, going to the regional finals for the first time, 58 games in a row over two and a half years. And we had tough love throughout this season. There were many times we faced adversity and it all paid off.
"This is why I love sports, especially team sports. In the game of life you’re going to face adversity. Someone on that team will get divorced, something is going to happen and you have to fight through it. I couldn’t be happier for this group because we were a rollercoaster, but we’re back to the sweet sixteen.”
Lucas started off strong, taking a 12-7 lead at the end of one quarter, and the Cubs defense looked almost impenetrable early on. But the Eagles stayed persistent, their shots began to fall and they used a 10-3 run in the first three minutes of the second quarter to take a 17-15 lead.
After being held scoreless in the first quarter, senior Braxton Baker knew he had to step it up if Colonel Crawford wanted to make another trip to regionals.
“I wasn’t forcing it at first," he said. "Then I realized I have to score in a big game like this. I can’t just not be here. I think I did a great job being more aggressive in the second quarter, and that got us going. Once I got going, other people started to because they had to focus on me.”
Baker scored six points in the second quarter and helped the Eagles to a 21-20 halftime lead. Lucas scored the opening bucket of the second half before the Eagles went on their game-changing run, which featured a five-minute scoring drought by the Cubs.
“Some of their guards made some shots, especially early there to keep them in it when we made a little run," Lucas coach Taylor Iceman said. "But that’s how you have to defend them with two big kids inside. It’s not something you see now in this era. I’d like to see more of it, and if we had that we’d run our stuff the same way. You have to double down. We did a good job on [Jacob] Maddy, but to do that we had to leave some guys open.
“He’s just so tough, especially for us because we’re not that big. Aiden did a good job on him. Sometimes their way to get it to him was to throw up a shot and he’d rebound it. Again, that just comes down to the way the ball bounces sometimes. It just seemed like they made big shots, questionable calls went their way, the ball bounced their way.”
Maddy hurt the Cubs in their first meeting with 27 points, and Iceman wanted to make sure that didn't happen again. But focusing on Crawford's big allowed players like Trevor Vogt, Derek Horsley and Baker to get open looks. Those three players combined for 12 of the Eagles' 14 points in the third quarter.
“I thought we had more balance tonight," Sheldon said of the biggest difference between the two games. "The first time Maddy put on a show, Baker struggled a bit with Logan Toms guarding him. But that’s where Braxton Baker has grown. Last year he was the third option, just catch and shoot. This year he’s getting face-guarded and doubled. He dealt with physical-ness in a district final. Braxton Baker puts his name in the books.
"I told him going into this that the great ones get themselves to regionals. Nobody remembers All-Ohio or all-district, but someday you’ll talk about going to back-to-back sweet sixteens."
After being held to 13 points in mid-January, Baker had a game-high 22 points, with 16 of those in the second half.
“I re-watched the first game and knew how they were going to guard me, so that helped," he said. "I knew they’d be up into me so I could attack the basket and make quick moves in case they doubled. I thought I did a great job of that tonight. Watching the first game really helped me.”
With the odds stacked against them, Colonel Crawford is heading back to regionals. Sure, the Eagles dropped down from Division III to Division IV, which in theory seems like an easier path. But Lucas has been one of the toughest teams to beat in the area over the last few years and other teams in the district were loaded with talented young players.
“That’s a very good basketball team we just played," Sheldon said. "I have the utmost respect for Lucas. What Taylor Iceman has done down there, they’re tough kids and they play the right way. It reminds me of our program."
Not to mention the Eagles lost two All-Ohioans and two key role players from last year's squad, leaving just one starter, Baker, returning. But a total team effort Friday night was the most Colonel Crawford way to win a district championship.
"The sixth one in over 60 years, the sixth one in 15 years," Sheldon said. "Everyone counted us out with one starter back, but we’re back in the dance.”
Baker had seven rebounds to go with his 22 points, Maddy added 13 points and seven rebounds, Vogt and Horsley had 10 points apiece, and Ethan Holt chipped in four.
"This is the epitome of Colonel Crawford basketball," Sheldon said. "Each person buys into a role, and that’s what it’s all about. Not everyone has the same job. The head coach, the bald guy who has been here 17 years dictates that. We change every year depending on (what we have).”
“Nobody thought we’d get back to this position losing two All-Ohioans," Baker added. "It really shows that everyone bought into their roles and everyone was prepared.”
“I’ve coached 21 years, 17 as a head coach, I’m not going to take this for granted," Sheldon said. "It’s so, so hard to get here. Living with a wife who has 27 years as a head coach, we’ve had a lot of ups and downs. We’re going to enjoy tonight and get back to work tomorrow."
And you can be sure of one thing — the whole town of North Robinson will be there cheering on their Eagles.
“Our community, the support we get is second to none," Sheldon said. "They’ve been spoiled the last 12 years.”
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This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Colonel Crawford boys beat Lucas for another district championship
