Bradds’ dunk sparks Rams past Trojans

Southeastern led most of the game, but late run lifts Greeneview.

Greeneview's Kyle Combs (center) competes for a loose ball with Southeastern's PJ Banion (left) and Lucas Pavlatos during Friday night's game at Southeastern. Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic

Barbara Perenic Greeneview's Kyle Combs (center) competes for a loose ball with Southeastern's PJ Banion (left) and Lucas Pavlatos during Friday night's game at Southeastern. Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic

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By Jeff Gilbert, Contributing writer 11:28 PM Friday, January 13, 2012

SOUTH CHARLESTON — Southeastern coach P.J. Bertemes gave the simplest explanation for why Greeneview was able to dominate the final 11 minutes Friday night for a 66-53 Ohio Heritage Conference victory.

“They have an Evan Bradds, and we don’t,” Bertemes said. “That’s really the difference in a tight game.”

The Rams (9-2, 7-1 OHC) had gained possession on a turnover with 12 seconds left in the third quarter and the score tied at 43. They spread the floor and everyone knew the 6-foot-7 Bradds would either shoot or dish off to an open shooter, which is usually 3-point specialist Eric Green in the right corner. But this time Green went to the left corner. Bradds said when the defense shifted he saw an opening to the basket. Two dribbles later he was dunking.

“That really gave us some momentum,” said Greeneview coach Bill Green. “You could just see our kids perk up, and we took off from there.”

The second deflator for the Trojans came early in the fourth quarter when a loose ball found Bradds and he swished a 3-pointer for a 50-45 lead. Then he followed a missed shot and scored again to take a 54-47 lead with 4:17 left, the last of his 21 points.

“It’s probably different if somebody steps over from our team and stops the drive or takes a charge there,” Bertemes said of Bradds’ dunk. “Those are difference-makers in games, and ultimately he made the plays and we didn’t.”

The Rams closed out the Trojans (6-4, 5-3) with Tyler Bruntz getting behind an extended defense looking for steals and scoring 10 of the Rams’ last 12 points to finish with 23.

This game was markedly different from Greeneview’s 63-38 win over the Trojans on Dec. 9. This time the Trojans led most of the game and by as many as eight in the second quarter. They played a switching and denying man-to-man defense that Green is used to seeing from the Trojans.

“They’ve improved a ton,” Green said. “P.J.’s a great coach, and you knew they were going to get better.”

The first time, Greeneview’s new defensive style of trapping and forcing tempo worked.

This time it didn’t as Duncan Mercer scored 13 of his 19 points in the first half attacking the basket.

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