Danville shocks Lebanon 66-54

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Danville's Michael Morris III celebrates a big play during Tuesday's sectional win over Lebanon. Will Willems/Flyer photo

March 2, 2011

By Will Willems Hendricks County Flyer The Hendricks County Flyer Wed Mar 02, 2011, 12:02 AM EST

LEBANON — Coming into the Sectional 25 opener between Danville and Lebanon, all the numbers favored the host Tigers.

Lebanon was a perfect 10-0 at home, had gone 5-0 against sectional opponents (including a 10-point win against Danville in December), averaged the highest point total and had a top-5 ranking in both the AP Poll and Sagarin Ratings.

But that is why they play the games. Danville made 20 of 24 free throws in the fourth quarter and shocked the Class 3A No. 5 Tigers 66-54.

"We have said all year that we were a work in progress," Danville head coach Brian Barber said. "We have played nine guys all year and different guys have stepped up at different times. We felt like we had improved since we played them in December and I think we showed that tonight."

For Lebanon, which went 7-0 in winning the Sagamore Athletic Conference, the loss was an abrupt end to what the Tigers had hoped would be a long playoff run.

"It is a disappointment to our kids and our coaching staff but winning is easy to handle," Lebanon head coach Albert Hendrix said. "But losing is going to build character and this is not always about basketball, it is about life lessons and certainly we will take some life lessons away from what happened tonight and use them to get ready for next year."

Lebanon led 14-13 with 3:39 remaining in the first half when Danville went on a 7-3 spurt to end the half with a 20-17 lead.

The lead stayed at three points early in the third quarter, but an 11-2 Danville run built the Warrior lead to 12 with 2:57 remaining in the third quarter.

"We did a good job in the third quarter of making the extra pass," Barber said. "We didn't settle for the first look we had."

While the Warriors were patient, the Tigers were not.

"We had an opportunity right at the start of the third quarter after we made a stop and then turned it over," Hendrix said. "Then they made a little run on us and once they got the lead they forced us to take some shots that we don't normally take. We missed them and they were able to build on the lead."

The Tigers mounted one last rally, getting within three points at 45-42 with 3:52 left. But Tyler Hall went 6-for-6 from the line in the next 40 seconds and Jordan Leonard hit a big 3-pointer with 2:13 left to build the lead to nine points.

Lebanon got no closer than eight the rest of the way.

"We got the lead built up and then in the fourth quarter we just stayed with it," Barber said. "We knew Lebanon was going to make a run, they are an excellent team. The last couple of minutes we did a good job of executing and hitting our free throws, that was the difference in the game."

While Danville made 20 of 24 free throws in the fourth, Lebanon shot just 3 of 6 from the line in the quarter and 10 of 19 for the game.

"When you are shooting free throws with a lead you are a little more comfortable and a little more confident," Hendrix said. "They hit theirs and you have to give credit to Danville because they played a heck of a game."

The Warriors face Crawfordsville Friday night at Lebanon. It will be the second game of the night, following North Montgomery and Southmont.

Danville defeated Crawfordsville by three points in overtime the last time the teams met. Barber said he isn't worried about the lingering excitement from defeating the top-ranked team in the sectional.

"That was the first thing we talked about in the locker room," Barber said. "We have talked about that from day one. Our guys have been around winning and know that it is one game at a time, one day at a time, one practice at a time. You can't get too high after a win or too low after a loss, you have to stay balanced.

We beat Crawfordsville in overtime the last time we played them and we know that it is going to be a slugfest the whole way. The Sagamore Conference is full of good basketball teams. We know what we are in for with Crawfordsville Friday night."

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