Johnie Logue
Sports Reporter
The game was at ten in the morning and a thirty mile drive for most. However, the contest between heated rivals lived up to expectations in a physical 45-44 victory for Sacred Heart over Cole Camp on Saturday in the Kaysinger Conference Tournament.
The fifth seeded Gremlins avenged a two-point loss at Cole Camp back on December 16. That one saw a three pointer bounce off the front of the rim for Sacred Heart at the buzzer for a heartbreaking two point defeat at the hands of the Bluebirds.
This time, the fourth seeded Cole Camp Bluebirds had a long range three rattle off the goal as the horn sounded.
The first quarter saw both teams using a full court zone trapping press to attempt to gain an early advantage as the chess game between veteran coaches Steve Goodwin and Kevin Shearer warmed up. Cole Camp led 10-9 after one.
Cole Camp jumped out to a 20-13 lead late in the second half but the Gremlins crawled back in with a bank three by George Bain IV to narrow the margin to 22-19 at the half way mark.
The third frame had a little of everything. A technical foul was called on Sacred Heart for a player not having the right number according to the game roster turned in by the coaching staff. Reid Harrison ripped both free three throws and it was 30-24 with Sacred Heart regaining the lead as the Gremlins came out bombing threes.
The fouls were 1-9 as the Sacred Heart crowd became upset with the margin.
Owen Ives tied the game on a break away layup at 36. Then the silent defensive ace would score off a nice pass to take a 38-36 lead. It was 40-up with 6'6" Gentry Dieckman fouled out for Cole Camp at the 1:55 mark.
"That was a big blow as he is our leading scorer and he is awesome on defense," Coach Shearer remarked.
Tanner Damlo fouled out and was held scoreless by the Cole Camp defense.Shearer missed two throws but got his own rebound underneath and scored making it 43-42 but Sacred Heart held on for the 45-44 victory.
Coach Shearer commented, "We were 2-15 from three. We just can't shoot from outside in close games. We need to figure something out before districts in two weeks."
Both teams are 12-6.
COLE CAMP (44): Shearer 8, Harrison 6, Dieckman 16, Oelrich 10, Ives 4.
SACRED HEART (45): Bain 9, Brown 2, Co. Rice 8, Ca. Rice 17, Goodwin 9.
