Sunday, March 07, 1999
Elder summons that old Panther magic
Win spurs talk of '93 title run
BY CAREY HOFFMAN
Enquirer contributor
Down by three points midway through the fourth quarter, Elder basketball coach Joe Schoenfeld began to wonder if he should call off his team's full-court pressure. The Panthers had been in it for most of the half, and had little to show for it.
In the next two minutes, he came to believe in the power of the press.
Three straight Hughes turnovers, two of which were a direct result of the press, fueled an 8-0 Elder run that set up a 59-53 victory Saturday afternoon at UC's Shoemaker Center.
The victory was Elder's sixth straight and gave the 12-11 Panthers the Cincinnati Division I lower bracket sectional title — Elder's first since 1995.
Elder advances to meet the winner of Monday's Beaver creek-Kettering Fairmont game for the district title this Saturday at 11 a.m. at University of Dayton Arena.
“One of our goals was to get to UD Arena,” Schoenfeld said. “We didn't get a chance to play for the league title or anything else this year, so our guys are very excited to have the first thing to play for in a while.”
Hughes, the sectional's No.3 seed, finished 12-10.
Elder trailed 46-43 with four minutes left. Mike Kelsey started the decisive run with a layup. James Kenney made one of two foul shots after making a steal, tying the game and bringing the Elder crowd alive.
Following another Kenney steal and Kelsey layup, Hughes lost the ball against the press. Elder came down, and Joel Wainscott made a conventional three-point play off a baseline drive to put Elder up 51-46.
“Momentum-wise, that brought the house down,” said Wainscott, who had 13 points. “Everyone was going crazy.”
“We came within two or three minutes of winning the game,” Hughes coach Fred Tu dor said. “That turnover, and then an adjustment they made against our zone that set up that basket got their crowd fired up and really changed the game.”
Hughes never got closer than three points in the game's remaining 2:42.
For most of the game, Elder seemed in danger because it could not stop Hughes' 6-7, 245-pound junior, Ladetres Stallworth. After being held scoreless in the first quarter, Stallworth scored 18 points in the next 19 minutes.
But then the 6-2, 190-pound Wainscott, who does a lot of the heavy work inside on a team that lacks much physical presence, got his teammates going.
“He's a tough guy and provides us the attitude we need,” said Schoenfeld. In the past two games, Wainscott has bodied up with Stallworth and Aiken's 6-6 Paul McMillan, two of the most intimidating players in town.
Elder now feels it is on a roll, not unlike the feeling of the 1993 Panther team that won the state title. Two members of that team, Pat Kelsey (Mike's brother) and Kevin Whitmer, are now Elder assistants.
“Both those guys said they got goosebumps during our (8-0 fourth-quarter) run,” Schoenfeld said.
“Having those guys around is motivation,” said Wainscott. “They remind us of their season and how they got it done.”
ELDER (59) - Kelsey 5 2 14, Doyle 0 1 1, Rowland 2 2 7, Wainscott 2 9 13, Kenney 5 5 16, Renzenbrink 1 4 6, Benken 1 0 2. Totals: 16 23 59.
HUGHES (53) - McCants 1 2 4, Eubanks 1 0 3, Frazier 2 0 4, Dykes 2 1 6, Spears 1 0 2, Roberts 5 0 12, Grimes 0 2 2, Stallworth 9 2 20. Totals: 21 7 53.
Elder ....... 14 12 11 22—59
Hughes ....... 10 18 10 15—53
Three-point goals: E - Kelsey 2, Rowland, Kenney; H - Eubanks, Dykes, Roberts 2. Records: E 12-11, H 12-10.
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