'They wanted it': West M claims title as own after big fourth quarter

FALLS TOWNSHIP — "Greed is, for lack of a better word, good."

It was the most iconic of corporate raider Michael Douglas's lines in the movie "Wall Street," a film built largely around success of high-yield bonds in the U.S. Stock Market during the 1980s.

It could have also represented the mindset of West Muskingum on Friday night.

The Tornadoes, by virtue of their win against Meadowbrook three days prior, already had their first Muskingum Valley League-Small School Division title — their first since 1991. They needed a win against New Lexington, seeking their own share of the crown, to keep it for themselves.

That's precisely what transpired, as Jack Porter-led West scored 34 points in the paint and held the Panthers scoreless in the final five minutes in a 44-36 win at Gary Ankrum Gymnasium.

There were no intentions of letting any part of the title leave The Hill. Players bore championship T-shirts and cut down the nets in a spirited celebration with fans afterward, as West improved to 18-4 overall and finished a 14-2 league campaign.

"We talked a lot the last two days how this game was strictly theirs," West M coach Jeff Rinkes said. "They had their share, and if that's all they wanted, and they were happy with that, then we'll come out and play hard, play clean. Obviously you see the emotion. They wanted it."

Two figures most key to the Tornado resurgence the last two years — Porter and the graduated Luke Pattison, last year's top scorer — each have ties to the 1991 team.

Led by current Tri-Valley coach Todd McLoughlin, those Tornadoes finished unbeaten in the regular season and No. 1 in Division III by the Associated Press. Their fathers, Darren Porter and Jeff Pattison, were members of that squad.

It only added to the team's motivation.

"Their dads' names are on that trophy," Rinkes said. "I think that gave a little more importance to winning it outright, and not sharing it."

Senior guard Jacob Allen said the fact New Lex has controlled the series in recent years, save for the Tornadoes' 16-point win at New Lex earlier in the year, only added to the motivation.

Porter said Rinkes and the staff helped alleviate the pregame pressure by stressing the team have fun, since the title was already in their possession.

"But we knew what we wanted, and I'm sure (Rinkes) wanted it as well," Porter said. "He did a good job of keeping us focused and mentally intact on that side of things."

Porter, like he has all season as the centerpiece of the team's Princeton offense, stymied the usually stingy New Lex defense with his timely drives and back-door passes.

He scored off a drive and a timely pass to the paint to start the game, setting the tone for West's patient plan. He finished with a game-high 16 points on six layups and a 6-of-6 effort at the line, while assisting on three other scores in the first half alone.

West shot 55 percent — 18-of-30 on 2s — and attempted only three 3-pointers, as post man Noah Ray and versatile 6-4 sophomore Jake Anton combined for 13 points in the second half.

Equally important, Allen helped limit lefty Isaiah Stephens, the Panthers' crafty point guard, to four first-half points and 11 for the game — six below his average.

The proof was on the scoreboard. When Stephens tallied seven points in the third, and assisted on two other baskets, New Lex turned a 23-16 halftime deficit into a 34-33 lead entering the fourth quarter with a 16-4 run.

He was held scoreless in the fourth.

"We scouted him a lot," Allen said. "He has that spin move and he's so good at it. We sat on that left hand and made him go right, and we had great gaps. My boys had my back if he got me on a few moves. We had great help. It was just a great defensive plan."

It wasn't a bad statistical game for New Lex.

The Panthers (18-4, 12-4) had only four turnovers, were 14-of-34 from the floor — 14-of-28 before their fourth-quarter drought — and held West without a 3-pointer.

But a litany of quick shots down the stretch, after the team seized a 32-27 lead in the third quarter, had even-keeled coach Jeremy Duerr bristling, saying his team "didn't fight for good shots."

So did the uncharacteristic defensive woes — West scored on 24 of its 38 possessions (63 percent). Thirty-nine points came in the paint or on free throws.

"Just too many breakdowns," Duerr said. "Jack Porter had his way with us."

It was the first loss for New Lex since a 53-47 setback at Maysville on Dec. 20 — a span of 11 games. Duerr's squad was seeking its first MVL title in basketball since 1958, and being able to snap the drought was paramount to the team's seniors.

Duerr said the coaches bore part of the responsibility for the team's struggle in the fourth which included seven straight empty possessions and seven straight missed shots — five were 3-pointers.

Lukas Ratliff's 10 points accounted for the only other Panther in double figures, but he missed four straight 3s in the fourth. New Lex was outscored 17-4 after taking a 32-27 lead with 2:42 left in the third, scoring just twice in its final 13 possessions.

"If you want to go fast, go alone — if you want to go fast, go together," Duerr said. "We don't seem to understand that is what is required against really good teams that play together and are disciplined. If we would have played like that through the stretch in the fourth quarter, we probably separate and win that game without a problem. But we got back to that and forced shots.

"It's guys wanting to do the right thing, and wanting to make the play that is going to win them that big game," Duerr added. "But wanting that and doing it like that, and trying to do it yourself, is what gets you in trouble."

It certainly wasn't the way they wanted to head into tournament play. Duerr's team now has 12 days to refocus, something that certainly seemed far from their minds in a sullen locker room afterward. He said his team must use the pain as a learning experience.

"They're a good team," Duerr said of West. "But it felt like we kind of left this one out there, to be honest. They played a good game and credit to them, but this one is on us."

West won the reserve game, 44-28, as Cade Porter had 14 points and Reid Lemity 12. Paul Stenson and Tristan Braden scored nine for New Lex.

sblackbu@gannett.com; Twitter: @SamBlackburnTR

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: 'They wanted it': West Muskingum boys claims MVL title as own