North Union’s Owen Davis (13) drives toward the basket against Marysville’s Ryker Bowden on Tuesday. The Wildcats edged MHS, 42-41. (Photo submitted)
Just two games into the season, the North Union boys basketball team has experienced exciting finishes that it may not see again the rest of the year.
For the second time in as many games, both on their home floor, the Wildcats found themselves standing around to see if free throws would give them a victory or defeat.
After losing by one point on a free throw with .1 second left in the game last week to River Valley, it was North Union’s Zach Vernon standing at the charity stripe to decide Tuesday’s outcome.
With no time left on the clock, Vernon’s free-throw aim was very true and North Union defeated Marysville 42-41 in non-league play. “What are the chances we have two dead ball free throws at the end of a game,” North Union head coach Brian Terrill said. “These first two games will get us battle-tested.”
The nail-biting finish made it an interesting debut for Marysville coach Mark Tinklenberg.
“This will be a building block for us,” Tinklenberg said. “We have an inexperienced group and I was proud of the way they played.”
The Monarchs were playing a little short-handed as their 6-7 center Jayson Moore is recovering from an injury and was unable to play.
Terrill was pleased how his team worked the offense and cut down on its turnovers from the game against the Vikings.
The Wildcats turned it over just nine times in the game.
“We did a better job offensively with our guard play,” Terrill said.
Terrill, though, said the Wildcats will have to get better defending the three-point shot.
“We have got to learn how to defend the three,” he said.
Marysville hit just one trey in the first half, but bounced back in the second half with five three-point goals, including four in the final quarter.
“We started getting the shots to fall to give us a chance at the end,” Tinklenberg said. “We knew coming in it would be a dog fight against North Union.”
North Union led 32-27 going into the final eight minutes, but Marysville’s first possession of the quarter gave an inkling of what was to come.
Chase Allen dialed up a three from deep in the left corner just 30 seconds into the fourth quarter to cut the margin to 32-30.
North Union battled back, hitting six straight free throws, two each by Aaron Krebehenne, Owen Davis and Mason Bright, to lead 38-30 with 5:53 remaining.
Marysville, however, scored 11 of the next 14 points, helped a pair of three-pointers by Nick Wever and one by Allen, tying the game at 41 with 37 seconds left in the game.
The Wildcats missed on two attempts for a winning field goal.
Vernon rebounded the second miss and was fouled on a stickback try as time expired.
It was a two-shot situation for Vernon, but he did not need the second one as his shot swished to the enjoyment of North Union fans.
Even with the loss Tinklenberg saw some good things from the Monarchs.
“The kids did not fold when we got behind and they did whatever it took,” he said. “I told them after the game this is the first step to it being a successful season.”
A rebound basket by Wever gave Marysville a 7-4 margin in the opening minutes of the first quarter.
North Union scored the next five markers, including a three from Krebehenne, and went to hold a 13-9 lead by the end of the frame.
The Wildcats pushed the margin to seven at 18-11 following a three-point goal by Max Parish.
They then scored the last four points of the quarter to hold a 22-15 intermission edge.
A rebound basket by Miller in the third quarter gave North Union its largest lead of the game at 30-18 with 2:44 left, only to have Marysville finish strong to trail 32-27 by the end of the quarter.
Vernon, by hitting the game-winning free throw, finished off an outstanding night by North Union from the charity stripe.
The Wildcats made their first 16 free throws and finished 18-of-20 for the night.
“The free throws were huge for us,” Terrill said.
Davis led the NU scoring with 16 points while Krebehenne added 10 markers.
Marysville was paced by 14 points by Wever.
Marysville won the junior varsity contest 59-18.
Andrew Rabe counted 14 points for Marysville while Tyler Krebehenne and Miles Hall each had seven for North Union.
Marysville
Wever 4-3-14, Allen 2-0-6, Bowden 2-0-4, Coil 0-0-0, Focht 3-3-9, Adkins 0-0-0, Smith 0-0-0, Johnson 0-0-0, Thornton 1-4-7. Three-point goals: Wever 3, Allen 2, Thornton.
North Union
Draper 0-2-2, Vernon 2-5-9, Parish 1-0-3, Bright 0-2-2, Bolander 0-0-0, Davis 6-4-16, T. Krebehenne 0-0-0, A. Krebehenne 2-5-10, Hall 0-0-0. Three-point goals: Parish, A. Krebehenne.
MHS 9 7 11 14—41
NU 13 9 10 10—42