TERRE HAUTE —
Threatening to interfere with Thanksgiving lunches throughout southern Indiana, Terre Haute North needed four overtimes —yes, four — to edge visiting Evansville Central 84-83 in one of the wildest season-opening boys high school basketball games in recent memory late Wednesday night.
“It’s definitely the longest game I’ve ever played in,” North starting forward Austin Lewis told the Tribune-Star afterward. “It was fun. It was a good way to start off the season. Our team battled through a lot of adversity throughout the game and we came out with a win.”
“I think this is a group that understands what it takes to win,” North coach Todd Woelfle said of his players. “They know how to win. They’ve been in a lot of big games and I think our experience paid off at times tonight. They didn’t get rattled at the end.”
This marathon slugfest was a scorebook keeper’s nightmare and a fan’s delight, although it started fairly normal after the visiting Bears won the junior varsity contest (in overtime).
North trailed 16-15 after the first quarter, 30-28 at halftime and 48-42 after three quarters.
Here’s where it starts to get interesting.
Evansville Central opened the fourth period with a 3-pointer by Jalen Bender and a pair of free throws by John Powers to create its largest margin of the night — 11 — at 53-42 with 7:10 remaining in regulation.
After the Patriots cut their deficit to 60-53, Lewis converted a layup following a steal by teammate Casey Vickers.
Lewis quickly got into the thievery act himself, pilfering the ball at midcourt and driving for another layup to pull North within 60-57 with 1:54 left.
Much to the disbelief of the Evansville Central coaching staff, Lewis was able to repeat his steal-layup combination a mere 15 seconds later to make the score 60-59.
North’s Steven Davis then pulled off the same combination — from a slightly different spot on the court — but the result was the same and North seized a 61-60 advantage with 1:22 to go.
“We had been having a very hard time containing their point guard, [Kourtlandt] Martin,” Woelfle explained. “He hurt us a lot, so we went to a little halfcourt trap [on defense] and we were active in it. The steals happened right after we went to the trap.”
Powers countered with an inside bucket and Bender later added a steal that led to his own field goal to give the Bears a 64-61 lead with 2.3 seconds left on the scoreboard.
After two timeouts, North’s Nathan Jahn inbounded from near the Evansville Central basket to midcourt, where teammate Calvin Blank caught it and fired a quick pass to Davis on the right wing.
Davis put up a running, right-handed 30-footer that swished through the net, tying the score at 64-64, sending the home fans into a frenzy and forcing the first extra period.
“He’s a good shooter,” Woelfle said of Davis. “I had no problem going back to him [after a few misses by Davis earlier].”
With 49 seconds left in the first OT, Jahn sank a trey from the left corner to knot the score at 70-70 and that’s where it remained heading into the second OT.
The only points occurring during that four-minute frame were an inside fielder by Blank and a steal/layup by Bender, triggering a third OT with the score sitting at 72-72.
A three-point play and a rebound bucket by Blank catapulted North ahead 77-74 with 2:02 showing on the scoreboard. But Bender put an end to anyone’s hopes that this game might end soon by nailing a 3 with 33 seconds remaining.
Shocked that a fourth overtime was approaching, fans throughout the gym could be seen on their cell phones — no doubt calling relatives to tell them they might be late for Thanksgiving meals.
OK, that might be a slight exaggeration. But 11 p.m. was getting near.
Two pairs of free throws by Blank put North on top 81-77 to open the fourth OT. Evansville Central’s Beau Dedmond answered with a trey from the right corner, cutting the Patriots’ lead to 81-80 with 2:12 to go, but a Lewis bunny pushed the margin to three at 83-80.
Then two free throws by Bender followed by a 1-for-2 effort from the foul line by Bender tied the score at 83-83 with 36 ticks left on the clock.
Could an incredible fifth overtime become reality?
If this were New Year’s Eve instead of Thanksgiving eve, would fans begin a countdown to midnight?
Not this time.
In the final seconds, the Patriots worked for a final shot and Lewis was fouled while attempting one with 2.9 seconds left.
Lewis rimmed out the first charity toss, probably causing spectators to think: “Here we go again.”
But he swished the second attempt for the one-point lead and North called timeout to set up its defense.
“It was definitely nerve-racking after that first one was so close to going in,” Lewis admitted with a chuckle.
When action resumed, Martin — who had torched the home team for 22 points in regulation — launched a midcourt bomb right before the buzzer that would have won the game for his team. But it bounced off the back of the rim and Woelfle’s squad breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Martin ended up leading Evansville Central with 26 points and seven steals, while Bender added 24 points, nine rebounds and four steals and Dedmond contributed 15 points.
For North, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Blank put up monster numbers — 36 points, 15 rebounds, two steals and one blocked shot. Lewis added 19 points, four steals and three blocks and regulation-hero Davis finished with 13 points and nine boards.
“I thought both teams really battled,” Evansville Central coach Scott Hudson assessed. “It was a great way to open the season.”
Hudson admitted that he had lost track of how many overtimes had taken place near the end.
“Both teams, at different times, had the game,” he noted. “Both teams had a lot of players who made a lot of big plays. … This was almost two games in one.”
EVANSVILLE CENTRAL (83) — Dedmond 7-13 0-0 15, Bender 7-18 7-10 24, Ferguson 1-6 0-0 2, Coffman 2-4 0-0 6, Martin 12-21 2-2 26, Powers 1-3 2-2 4, Sherman 3-4 0-0 6, Walker-Glenn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 33-68 FG, 11-14 FT, 83 TP.
TERRE HAUTE NORTH (84) — Lewis 8-14 3-6 19, Blank 14-21 7-8 36, Grady 1-1 0-0 2, Davis 4-14 2-2 13, Jahn 1-4 0-0 3, Vickers 2-8 0-0 6, Hart 1-2 0-0 2, Low 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 32-66, 12-16 FT, 84 TP.
Evansville Central 16 14 18 16 6 2 5 6 — 83
Terre Haute North 15 13 14 22 6 2 5 7 — 84
3-point shooting — EC 6-13 (Bender 3-5, Coffman 2-4, Dedmond 1-2, Martin 0-2), THN 8-25 (Davis 3-11, Vickers 2-6, Jahn 1-2, Low 1-2, Blank 1-3, Lewis 0-1). FG Pct. — EC .478, THN .485. FT Pct. — EC .786, THN .750. 3-pt. FG Pct. — EC .462, THN .320. Total fouls — EC 15, THN 16. Fouled out — none. Rebounds — EC 37 (Bender 9, Dedmond 6, Powers and Sherman 4, Martin 3, Ferguson and Coffman 2, team 7), THN 37 (Blank 15, Davis 9, Jahn 3, Lewis and Grady 2, Vickers and Low 1, team 4). Steals — EC 16 (Martin 7, Bender 4, Coffman 2, Dedmond, Ferguson and Sherman), THN 9 (Lewis 4, Blank and Davis 2, Vickers). Blocks — EC 1 (Dedmond), THN 6 (Lewis 3, Blank, Davis and Low). Turnovers — EC 13, THN 19.
JV — Evansville Central 48 (Raesheide Bell 12, Jalen Pemberton 11), North 41 (C.J. Brown 12, Charlie Aimone 10) in OT.
Next — North (1-0) will play Saturday at Fishers. Evansville Central (0-1) will be at home Nov. 30 to face Washington.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Not here: Terre Haute North guard Nathan Jahn blocks the way of Evansville Central's Andrew Coffman in second quarter action Wednesday night on the Patriot's gym.
-
SPT112112THNBBB lewis3.jpg
-
SPT112112THNBBB davis 1.jpg
-
SPT112112THNBBB davis2.jpg
-
SPT112112THNBBBblank1.jpg
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Downtown: Terre Haute North's Casey Vickers looks for 3 in the Patriots' four-overtime game with Evansville Central.
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Contested: Terre Haute North's Austin Lewis shoots over an Evansville Central defender in first-half action. North ended up winning 84-83 in four overtimes.
Discussion
Patriots win pre-Thanksgiving marathon
North boys need 4 OTs to get past Evansville Central
- Sports
-
Got it: Rex first baseman #29 Kurt Kudrecki fields a ball hit down the first base line during game action against the Quincy Gems Monday night at Bob Warn Field.
-
Loss drops Rex into first-place tie
In a battle for first place in the West Division of the Prospect League baseball standings, the Terre Haute Rex fell just short Monday night at Bob Warn Field.
-
Seven players from Terre Haute Rex taken in Major League draft
Seven players who are alumni of the Terre Haute Rex in the past four years achieved their dream of becoming professional baseball players when taken in the Major League Baseball draft earlier this month.
-
RAMBLIN’ RECK: Catching up on some things
Catching up — on all-state softball honors and a new basketball coach in Illinois.
-
METRO ROUNDUP: Hutson comes home, has personal best
Kylie Hutson returned to her home town Saturday to set a personal outdoor record, clearing 15-feet-5 in highlighting the Sycamore Open pole vault competition at Marks Field.
-
Checking in with cancer survivor
The last time the Tribune-Star visited with Amy Bagnoche, July of 2012, she was fighting back tears talking about her own battle with breast cancer and the battles that others were facing.
-
Post 346 rebounds to win Terre Haute Invitational
It’s an interesting dance that Wayne Newton Post 346 and Evansville Pate Post 265 have developed in American Legion baseball’s Terre Haute Invitational, and the last waltz was saved for the host team Sunday.
-
DeNato proves IU can pitch too
Joey DeNato dispelled the notion that College World Series newcomer Indiana is all about offense.
The junior left-hander threw a four-hitter and the Hoosiers looked mighty comfortable at TD Ameritrade Park while beating Louisville 2-0 on Saturday night. -
Metro roundup: Givens, Mundy win two-man golf tournament
Scott Givens and Tim Mundy maintained their first-day lead to win the Show-Me’s Two-Man golf tournament concluded Sunday at Rea Park
-
Goatee, Bertoli ran away with Spring Athlete of the Year
When honoring athletes after a season of excellence, the phrase “what might have been” doesn’t usually come up.
But in the case of Terre Haute South’s Jackson Bertoli and Terre Haute North’s TaPring Goatee – the Tribune-Star’s Athletes of the Year for spring sports – there’s an air of unfinished business despite obvious recent successes.
-
TODD GOLDEN: Golf ... the beast within?
Like many sports fans, my interest in professional golf is confined to the four major tournaments. Many prefer the Masters, some like the back-to-roots British Open, but I’ve always liked the U.S. Open the best.
-
Loss drops Rex into first-place tie
- Local Interest
-
Score: Post 346 runner #6 Jacob Johnson scores after a collision with the Pate catcher in the fourth inning Sunday afternoon.
-
Post 346 rebounds to win Terre Haute Invitational
It’s an interesting dance that Wayne Newton Post 346 and Evansville Pate Post 265 have developed in American Legion baseball’s Terre Haute Invitational, and the last waltz was saved for the host team Sunday.
-
METRO ROUNDUP: Wayne Newton 2-1 on young season
Wayne Newton Post 346 improved to 2-1 in American Legion baseball with a late 8-3 victory over Effingham on Thursday night.
Craig Peters was winning pitcher for Post 346 and T.J. Decker and Cody Thornton led a 16-hit attack with three hits each. -
Rex looking to return to pitching dominance Sunday against Springfield
During a 7-1 start and franchise-best seven-game winning streak, Terre Haute Rex pitching was the catalyst. Through eight games, the Rex led the Prospect League with an earned-run average of 1.11.
Even after giving up 10 runs Friday night in a 10-6 loss to the Quincy Gems, the Rex (7-2) are still the league leader in ERA at 2.09. -
FROM TERRE HAUTE TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES: Former Scamore hurlers doing well in White Sox system
Brian Omogrosso was promoted to Chicago and appeared in 11 games. The big right-hander compiled a 5.14 earned-run average in 14 innings of relief. He struck out 14 and walked seven.
- COLLEGE REPORT: Wabash College All-American relay team has TH flavor
-
Post 346 rebounds to win Terre Haute Invitational
- High School
-
-
Goatee, Bertoli ran away with Spring Athlete of the Year
When honoring athletes after a season of excellence, the phrase “what might have been” doesn’t usually come up.
But in the case of Terre Haute South’s Jackson Bertoli and Terre Haute North’s TaPring Goatee – the Tribune-Star’s Athletes of the Year for spring sports – there’s an air of unfinished business despite obvious recent successes.
- Post 346 opens tournament with two victories
- North boys move up to 13th in golf state finals
- Big hill to climb for North golf
- Top of her game
-
- College
-
Indiana starting pitcher Joey DeNato (23) celebrates throwing out Louisville's Coco Johnson (20) at first for the second out in the bottom of the ninth inning in an NCAA College World Series game in Omaha, Neb., Saturday, June 15, 2013 (AP Photo/The World-Herald, Ryan Soderlin) MAGS OUT; ALL NEBRASKA LOCAL BROADCAST TV OUT
-
DeNato proves IU can pitch too
Joey DeNato dispelled the notion that College World Series newcomer Indiana is all about offense.
The junior left-hander threw a four-hitter and the Hoosiers looked mighty comfortable at TD Ameritrade Park while beating Louisville 2-0 on Saturday night. -
Etherington, Moore happy to be with ISU basketball
Not even two weeks into their college experience, Indiana State freshmen men’s basketball players Alex Etherington and Demetrius Moore stood sentinel as 115 kids ran around them collecting basketballs and getting autographs at the Greg Lansing Basketball Camp on Thursday.
-
ISU's Johnson invited to World University Games
Indiana State senior Felisha Johnson will be traveling the world this summer after being named to represent the United States in the women’s shot put at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia.
-
FROM THE PRESS BOX: Close, but no cigar, theme for ISU sports in 2012-13
When I covered my first event of Indiana State’s 2012-13 season — ISU’s opening football game at Indiana — I was the first one in the press box at IU’s Memorial Stadium. I’m never the first one in the press box.
Maybe the prospect of ISU’s season had me so pumped that I decided to get it started close to three hours early? (Or more truthfully, maybe I was over-vigilent about predicted traffic horrors on the Indiana 46 bypass that never came to pass.) -
Q&A: ISU football coach Mike Sanford ready for fall
It’s hard to believe, but Mike Sanford has already been Indiana State’s football coach for six months.
Time flies, but Sanford’s task of preparing for his first season in charge of the Sycamores comes with few breaks.
-
DeNato proves IU can pitch too
- Sports Columns
-
-
RAMBLIN’ RECK: Catching up on some things
Catching up — on all-state softball honors and a new basketball coach in Illinois.
- TODD GOLDEN: Golf ... the beast within?
- Trackside: Midgets could be on rise in Wabash Valley
- RAMBLIN’ RECK: South grad helps VU to national golf title
- FROM THE PRESS BOX: Close, but no cigar, theme for ISU sports in 2012-13
-
RAMBLIN’ RECK: Catching up on some things
- Pro Sports
-
-
Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
Indianapolis Colts second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has quickly earned a reputation as someone who isn’t afraid to shake things up a bit.
- Deacon Jones of famed Fearsome Foursome dead at 74
- Seeking elite status
- Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
-
Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
- Terre Haute Rex
-
Got it: Rex first baseman #29 Kurt Kudrecki fields a ball hit down the first base line during game action against the Quincy Gems Monday night at Bob Warn Field.
-
Loss drops Rex into first-place tie
In a battle for first place in the West Division of the Prospect League baseball standings, the Terre Haute Rex fell just short Monday night at Bob Warn Field.
- Sliders’ frustration against Rex continues
- Sanchez stays hot to lead Rex to victory
- Rex fall at home to Sliders
- Rex looking to return to pitching dominance Sunday against Springfield
-
Loss drops Rex into first-place tie
- Colts
-
-
Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
Indianapolis Colts second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has quickly earned a reputation as someone who isn’t afraid to shake things up a bit.
- Landry believes he'll acclimate to Colts system
- Colts in harmony with new coordinator Hamilton
- Pagano amazed by collection of veterans
- Opening Day: Terre Haute Rex host Quincy
-
Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
- Auto Racing
-
Winner's kiss: Tony Kanaan of KV Racing Technology kisses the yard of bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday. Kanaan won his first Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on Sunday and kissed the bricks as part of a tradition at the Motor Speedway.
-
Kanaan can: Tony Kanaan finally wins Indy 500, ends heartbreak
Tony Kanaan had been so close so many times in the Indianapolis 500 until Sunday. Now he’s a winner.
- Crowd, competitors erupt in celebration for Brazilian driver
- Rookies fare well in 97th running of the Indy 500
- Top guns, again
- Looking for Indy breakthrough, Kanaan enjoying role as team mentor
-
Kanaan can: Tony Kanaan finally wins Indy 500, ends heartbreak
Madden 25 looks better than ever
NBA Live is back in '14
Rask, Seidenberg talk Game 3 win
Bruins take 2-1 series lead
Morosi: Closers on the trade market
Morosi: Scherzer could start All-Star Game
Chad Johnson released from jail
McReynolds: Ford's milestone win
McReynolds: Hamlin's hopes over?
Blackhawks lose Game 3
NBA Finals: Who gets the last big run?
Final Round Highlights
Rose on his late father: 'My dad was inspiration the whole day'
LeBron, D-Wade on being tested by Spurs
Julien: We know what we have to do
Quenneville: We have to be desperate
Highlights: Michigan
Spoelstra on Game 5 loss to Spurs
Putin Insists He Didn't Steal Super Bowl Ring
Phil on his 'heartbreaking' loss
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag
Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit
Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard
See Lindsay Lohan in Rehab
Sofia Vergara Posts Perky Backside Pic in Thong
Gaga Ditches Her Crazy Couture
Caught on Tape: Teacher Accused of Beating Autistic Child
"Stay Classy" Campaign Aims to Curb Binge Drinking
Sesame Street Tackling Tough Topic Parents in Jail
Miss Utah Fumbles Interview Question
Deranged man claims Newark-bound flight was poisoned
Cameron Diaz and Kate Upton Show Off Their Amazing Bikini Bodies
NBA FINALS: Spurs Win Game 5, Lead Series
Exclusive Clip: Jodi Arias: 'Dirty Little Secret'
Amphibious bus filled with tourists sinks
