Saturday, March 03, 2001
CCD rolls to district
By Carey Hoffman
Enquirer contributor
Cincinnati Country Day is heading back to the district tournament for the first time since a controversial loss two years ago.
The Indians suffocated Georgetown with a variety of trapping defenses, setting the tone for an 80-50 victory in the Cincinnati Division IV upper bracket sectional final at Loveland High School.
CCD meets the winner of today's Tipp City Bethel- Springfield Catholic Central game on March 9 at 6 p.m. at the University of Dayton Arena.
It's CCD's eighth district visit in coach Howard Brownstein's 16 years at the school. None was more painful, however, than Russia's game-winning tip-in that appeared to come after the final horn in 1999.
“We are on a mission to win this game,” said CCD senior forward Noah Allen, one of three players on this year's team to play in that game two years ago. “That was just so disappointing.”
CCD is 22-1, matching the best record in school history. Brownstein says this team isn't his most talented offensively, so it's learned to make up for that with its defense.
“We're trying to convince them that defense can do a lot for you,” Brownstein said.
Georgetown was harassed into 33 turnovers on Friday night, leading to numerous CCD fast-breaks. And CCD's considerable size advantage meant 25 of its 30 baskets came on from inside the paint.
“They are good at what they do,” said Georgetown coach Jerry Underwood. “They've used that 2-2-1 press and that 1-2-2 halfcourt defense all year, and they've become very good at it.”
“We've been working at our defense,” Brownstein said.
CCD forced 19 turnovers in the first half, leading to a 40-26 halftime lead. Georgetown briefly cut the margin down to 12 at 44-32 with 5:42 left in the third quarter, but then CCD produced a 9-0 run that put the game away for good.
Allen scored 29 points to lead CCD, a welcome sign after recent injuries limited him to just a combined eight points in CCD's first two tourney victories. “He's just athletic,” Underwood said. “And he always seems to be in the right place at the right time.”
Austin Mitchell added 11 points and 10 rebounds for CCD. The combination at point guard of Danny Gardiner (13 assists, 5 steals) and Joel Ellison (8 assists, 4 steals) was also particularly productive.
Georgetown was led by sophomore Ryan Seesholtz, who had 11 points. The G-Men (10-13) were making their second sectional final appearance in the three years they have been assigned to the Loveland sectional. CCD also beat Georgetown in regional play back in 1992, when the Indians made a run all the way to the Division IV state semifinals.
CCD (80) - Carraway 2 3 7, Gardiner 1 2 4, Ellison 4 0 8, Wright 1 0 3, McMahon 1 1 3, Allen 13 3 29, Cohen 2 3 7, Mitchell 4 3 11, Daly 0 2 2, Seward 2 2 6. Totals: 30 19 80.
GEORGETOWN (50) - Seesholtz 5 1 11, Dennis 1 2 4, Sebastian 0 1 1, Helbling 1 0 3, Waits 5 0 12, Foster 1 1 4, Rhoades 2 1 5, Johnson 5 0 10. Totals: 20 6 50. CCD 23-17-24-16-80 Georgetown 15-11-11-13-50
3-point goals: CCD - Wright; G - Helbling, Waits 2, Foster. Records: CCD 22-1, G 10-13.
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CCD rolls to district
