Luers advances on late shot
Justin A. Cohn |
BERNE – Junior Dwight Richards summed up the moment like this: “That’s what I do – big plays, big plays.”
Few were bigger than the one he made late Friday night.
With just less than two seconds remaining in the Class 2A sectional semifinal at South Adams, having just missed a shot from the corner, he nailed a 15-foot jump shot to lift Bishop Luers to a 46-44 victory over Bluffton.
The Knights will face Adams Central on Monday night.
“Dwight, when he had those two looks, those are the types of shots he can make,” Knights coach James Blackmon Sr. said. “I was surprised he got that open. What we did was run an offensive set and try to milk the clock. … Toward the end of that offense, it pretty much spread out like we wanted to. We had a couple options, and Dwight was one of the options.”
Jaylon Smith, who missed 15 of 18 shots before fouling out with 2:01 remaining, scored 12 points and had 11 rebounds to lead the Knights (14-8). He was replaced by Richards.
Smith, also a linebacker, has a football recruiting visit at Notre Dame today, Blackmon said.
“There were a lot of shots he would normally make. It was a frustrating night for him, but his effort was there,” Blackmon said. “I’m pretty sure (the Notre Dame) visit had something to do with his concentration.”
Bishop Luers led 44-42 when Smith fouled out. Bluffton’s Keith Cochran tied it at 44 with 56 seconds left.
The Tigers had their chances to take advantage of Smith’s departure, but, they missed key shots.
Bluffton (18-5) made 33.3 percent of its shots, including 16.7 percent in the second half.
Bishop Luers shot 29.5 percent, but its 25 percent second-half rate was enough.
Cochran, the 6-foot-11 1/4 senior, had 12 points, 19 rebounds and five blocks, but he was 3 of 15 from the field. Chandler Prible, a junior, had 11 points and six assists.
“When we had to play good defense, we did. It was a close game. But big plays, big shots, that’s what Bishop Luers basketball does,” said Richards, who had four points.
Teammate Michael Rogers had eight points, and Colin Stuerzenberger had seven as the Knights continued their run without sophomore James Blackmon Jr., an Indiana recruit who is out for the season with a knee injury.
jcohn@jg.net