Waldron survives sectional thriller against Southwestern

EDINBURGH – Small statistics made big differences in the Edinburgh Sectional opener Tuesday.

Four different Waldron players scored in the second overtime period and three combined to make four free throws over the final 71 seconds to finally get the Mohawks a 56-51 double-overtime victory over Southwestern.

Waldron made 8 of 10 free throws in the two overtime periods and finished with just four turnovers to defeat the Spartans for the third time this season.

“When you have as many seniors as we do and Southwestern did, it’s sad to see it end for those guys,” said Waldron head coach Jeb Stewart. “They played their hearts out, both sides, both sets of seniors just played unbelievable.”

Lucas Shaw, who had just nine points after three quarters, scored six points in the fourth quarter and 13 in the two overtime periods to finish with a game-high 28 points. The senior also had 10 rebounds and two assists in what became a showcase against Southwestern senior Ben Kahler, who took all but one of Southwestern’s shots in overtime.

“(Lucas) just decided that we weren’t going to lose and he decided to take over the game, and he did,” said Stewart. “He made All-District. He made All-Conference. And it showed out there.”

Kahler finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds in his final game.

“(Lucas and Ben) have been playing each other since fifth grade,” said Stewart. “It is a special thing to watch them and you hate to see either one have to graduate, but that is the way it goes.”

Waldron shot its way to a quick 9-0 lead on three-pointers by Parker Douglas (2) and Shaw.

After a timeout, the Spartans finally got on the scoreboard with a traditional 3-point play from Mitchell Clements. Waldron got another 3 from Max Jones and twice got the lead back to nine in the opening quarter but Jace Patterson and Cecil Newton connected on 3s in the final 35 seconds to get within three, 16-13 at the break.

“We had to settle in. They had open looks and we had a couple of lapses defensively,” said Southwestern head coach Chris Ingels. “They made shots and we just had to settle down and settle in. And we finally did and played really well after that.”

Waldron hit 4-of-6 3s in the opening eight minutes then missed its final 12 attempts from beyond the arc in the game and only scored six points in the second and third quarters.

“I thought we settled for 3-pointers early on and when I wanted us to hit one later on we couldn’t get one,” said Stewart.

An 8-2 run to start the third quarter got the Spartans a 28-22 lead. Neither team led by more than four points the rest of the way until the game’s final seconds.

Shaw scored his team’s final six points in the fourth quarter but missed a game-winning attempt in the final seconds.

Kahler and Shaw scored all 16 points in the first overtime as the teams remained tied 46-all going to a second overtime.

Clements got a layin to start the second overtime scoring. Shaw answered at the other end and Eli Stewart followed with a 10-footer in the lane and Shaw converted again for a 52-48 Waldron lead.

Kahler drove the baseline and scored with 1:24 to go but missed the free throw after the foul call. Kahler was fouled on the next possession and hit 1 of 2 free throws to cut the lead to 52-51.

Shaw was fouled with 1:11 to go and hit the first of two free throws for a 53-51 advantage.

Ray Wagner did the same with 32 seconds to go to push the lead to three and the Spartans could not answer.

Jones sank a pair of free throws with 3.8 seconds left to set the final score.

“These kids fought all year long,” said Ingels. “Both teams showed up to play. I told our guys it’s OK to be disappointed because when you play that hard and you play that well and you come up one play short, you can be disappointed but you cannot hang your head.”

Jace Patterson hit five 3s for Southwestern and scored a team-high 17 points but did not get a shot off in overtime. Clements finished with 11.

Douglas, with the two early 3s, finished with 10 points. Jones had seven, including converting four free throws in the fourth quarter and second overtime.

Southwestern started the season 0-5 and was 4-10 after a 56-19 loss to Waldron on Jan. 31. The Spartans won six of their next seven to near a .500 record before finishing 10-14.

Kahler, who reached 1,000 career points in a Feb. 18 win over Knightstown, closed out his career with 1,080 points which is sixth-best all-time in the program.

“I am going to miss Ben Kahler like crazy,” said Ingels. “He has done everything for us, handling the ball, driving, shooting, rebounding. He has led us in every category the last couple of years.”

With the win, Waldron (12-11) advanced to Friday’s semifinal game against North Decatur, a 50-43 winner over Knightstown Tuesday. The Chargers (12-13) defeated the Mohawks, 59-54, on Feb. 6.

The second semifinal game Friday will feature Edinburgh (12-12), a 42-31 overtime winner over Tri Wednesday in the first quarterfinal game, against South Decatur (6-18), who defeated Morristown 61-46 in the second quarterfinal game.

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