Where’s the traffic cop when you need one? Jonathan Alder’s Taber Headings (22) feels the ball should go one direction. Bloom Carroll fans have a different opinion, while JA’s Reed Van Kirk (14) awaits the official’s call. The Pioneers saw their season end during an overtime setback to the Bulldogs during the Division II district semifinals at Westerville North High School. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
At times, it was not the most artistic basketball game ever played.
There was, however, a lot of tension on both sides of the court at Westerville North High School.
Jonathan Alder’s boys hoop squad overcame a scoreless second quarter, fought back late in regulation, but fell in overtime, 45-38, to Bloom Carroll.
The dramatic, season-ending setback for the fifth-seeded Pioneers (18-7) came during the Division II district semifinals.
The game could not have started off better for JA.
Alder couldn’t miss the basket during the initial set.
Three-point goals by Grant Welsch, Peyton Heiss and Taber Headings led to a 16-6 advantage over the third-seeded Bulldogs by the end of the quarter.
A shooting chill settled in over the Pioneers during the ensuing period.
“We just didn’t have very good looks at the basket,” said coach Zach Ross. “We missed a lot of shots.”
At times, Alder appeared to set up for some good looks, but the ball didn’t drop into the hoop.
JA ended up hitting only 31% (14-of-45) from the field for the game.
The Pioneers also had difficulty taking care of the ball as six of their eight first-half turnovers occurred during that eight-minute stretch.
The end result was a huge goose egg on the scoreboard during the second stanza.
Bloom Carroll, on the other hand, got its offense on track.
Evan Dozer, who led all scorers with 24 points, got things started with a trifecta.
He scored two additional baskets as the Bulldogs gradually cut into the Pioneers’ lead.
Dozer’s transition basket after an Alder turnover (one of 14 for the night) pulled BC to within 16-15 with 3:19 remaining in the opening half.
Alder threw up a pair of errant shots as the timer went under the two-minute mark.
Jared Rose then dialed up a long-distance offering that gave Bloom Carroll its first lead of the night at 18-16.
Dozer finished off the run by converting a steal into a 20-16 halftime lead for the Bulldogs.
Welsch, who led JA with 17 points, opened the third stanza with a jumper, narrowing the local team’s deficit to 20-18.
Points were difficult for both teams to come by during the quarter as there were enough empty possessions to go around.
Dozer drove inside for a layup that later padded the Dogs’ lead to 22-18.
Joey Walker pulled JA to within 22-20 with a pair of free throws.
Scoring was difficult for the 6-6 Alder post player, who was closely guarded from both the front and back.
Walker was limited to four points for the game.
Headings later tied the battle at 22-all after grabbing a loose ball.
The stalemate lasted less than nine seconds before Dozer’s charity tosses returned a 24-22 edge to BC with 2:08 remaining in the quarter.
Reed Van Kirk of JA knotted the fight at 24-24.
Bloom Carroll worked the timer down to the waning seconds before suffering a turnover.
Welsch grabbed the loose ball, but missed a long shot at the buzzer.
Heiss curled around Heading’s screen and swished a three-ball to begin the final period of regulation.
That 27-24 lead, however, did not last very long for the Pioneers.
Dozer converted a steal into a lay-up.
Rose then scored on an inbounds play to return a 28-27 edge to the Fairfield County squad.
Welsch drove the lane and converted a traditional three-point play for Alder’s 30-28 margin.
There were a trio of lead exchanges until a stickback by Headings knotted the score at 34-34 with 38 seconds left in the fourth period.
The Pioneers had fouls to give as they attempted to prevent the Dogs from scoring a late winning bucket.
Welsch picked up his fourth foul with 22.8 ticks on the timer.
Both coaches played the timeout chess match to try and get the upper hand.
Bloom Carroll then let fly with a shot at the horn.
The offering missed, sending the game into an extra four-minute session tied at 34.
Rose hit a right-side jumper for a 36-34 Bulldog lead.
Heiss tied the game at 36 with a shot at the 2:35 mark.
Dozer zipped an assist for Da’Shan Clark’s layup that gave Bloom Carroll a 38-36 edge.
The Bulldogs missed opportunities to increase their lead by clanking the front end of two one-and-one situations.
Rose later sank one charity toss for a 39-36 BC lead.
Fans anticipated the remainder of the battle would come down to the charity stripe.
They were correct.
Welsch connected on a pair of free throws with 23.4 seconds left in OT. Those gifts sliced JA’s gap to 39-38.
Alder had to foul in order to halt the clock.
That eventually put the Dogs in the double bonus.
Dozer swished one shot from the stripe for a 40-38 edge.
Bloom Carroll grabbed a rebound on the missed second free throw.
Beau Wisecarver was sent to the stripe where he made one shot for a 41-38 BC lead.
The Bulldogs later recovered possession of the ball, which once again forced JA to foul.
Heiss was waved to the sidelines with his fifth personal after the whistle.
This time, Dozer tickled the twine with both free throws, elevating the Dogs’ spread to 43-38 with 13.8 seconds to play.
The Pioneers coughed up the ball and once again fouled.
Wisecarver sank one free throw for a 44-38 BC lead.
Alder missed a shot and the Bulldogs added one last charity toss for their final margin of victory.
Bloom Carroll hit only 11-of-18 from the stripe for the game.
“However, they made enough when it counted,” said Ross.
JA was sent to the stripe seven times and hit five.
“The guys fought hard and never quit,” said the Alder coach. “We did a good job of getting back into the game (after the second quarter).
“Bloom Carroll, though, made the big plays when they were needed.”
Ross praised seniors Welsch, VanKirk, Tyler Begin, Walker and Headings after their final high school contest.
“Our seniors did a lot of special things,” he said. “I feel awful for them and I wish I could take away their pain.”
Bloom Carroll
Dozer 9-5-24, Rose 4-1-10, Clark 2-2-6, Wisecarver 1-2-4, Wyant 0-1-1, Whitcraft 0-0-0. Totals 16-11-45.
Three-point goals: Dozer 1, Rose 1.
Jonathan Alder
Welsch 6-3-17, Heiss 3-0-8, Headings 3-0-7, Walker 1-2-4, VanKirk 1-0-2, Begin 0-0-0. Totals 14-4-38.
Three-point goals: Welsch 2, Heiss 2, Headings 1.