Greeneview can’t hold lead against Anna

Leading after three quarters, Rams go cold down the stretch.

Greeneview's Evan Bradds collides with Anna's Wesley Hunsucker as he drives to the basket during Thursday's Division III playoff game. Staff photo by Bill Lackey

Bill Lackey Greeneview's Evan Bradds collides with Anna's Wesley Hunsucker as he drives to the basket during Thursday's Division III playoff game. Staff photo by Bill Lackey

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Photos: Greeneview vs. Anna

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By Brian Plasters, Staff Writer Updated 7:25 AM Friday, March 12, 2010

DAYTON — The Rams played lights-out for three quarters. In the fourth, the Rockets turned those lights off.

Although leading 34-32 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Greeneview High School boys basketball team lost to Anna 52-44 on Thursday, March 11, in a Division III district final at UD Arena.

The Rams missed nine straight shots from the floor to start the fourth period, and two free throws from Zach Raynor with 6:31 left in the game were their only points until Evan Bradds made a layup at the 1:40 mark.

By that time Anna had built a 45-36 lead with a 13-2 run.

“We had some pretty good shots in the fourth quarter that we just didn’t put down. That was the game right there,” Greeneview head coach Bill Green said.

Greeneview rarely missed in the first half, shooting 11-for-17 (64.7 percent) from the field and Ronnie Drinnon, Greeneview’s 6-foot-6 forward, was able to shoot over the shorter Rockets for 12 points.

The Rams had leads of 12-4 and 17-8, but Anna trailed by just two, 24-22, at halftime.

It was clear at that point that the Rockets were focused on taking away the Rams’ points in the paint.

“We did a good job of getting it inside,” Green said, “then they upped their pressure and we didn’t handle it well.”

Greeneview turned the ball over 18 times.

Anna took its first lead, 35-34, on a 3-pointer from Derek Billing to start the fourth quarter, and a steal and layup from Billing put the Rockets up 37-34.

Raynor followed that up with two free throws, but the Rockets scored the next eight points and never relinquished the lead.

Drinnon finished with a game-high 20 points and did everything but mop the floor: He made 9-of-14 shots from the field (64.3 percent), grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds, blocked two shots and took a charge.

Billing, who averages 20 points per game, scored 12 of his team-high 14 points in the fourth quarter and had four assists. Tim Cooper and Raynor were able to shut him down most of the game.

Anna (22-2) has won three straight district titles. The Rockets will play the winner of Columbus Bishop Ready and Worthington Christian on Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. at Kettering Fairmont.

Greeneview (18-4) won eight more games than last season.

“I didn’t expect us to win that many games this soon, but the kids play well together ... and the chemistry is there,” Green said.

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