Contributed By Noah Ricks 

HOWLAND CENTER, OH – It was a crucial win-or-go-home scenario for both Jefferson and LaBrae. Both teams were fighting for something, the Falcons their first district title in school history, and the Vikings their second district title in three years. They would also both show what tournament basketball is all about. In a game that took overtime to finish, the Falcons would edge out LaBrae with just enough free throws to come out with the thrilling victory 72-69. Coach Rob Pisano thought his team made some mistakes down the stretch, but was pleased with how they ended the game.

 

“In the beginning of that game, they [LaBrae] played harder. They wanted it more than we did. Our guys settled down and settled in, and we didn’t play a great basketball game at all. People have seen us play. [But] I thought our guys played with unbelievable intensity and heart, and that was won by toughness down the stretch. They didn’t give up and hopefully we can play a little more of our basketball game Friday night. We’re going to bring some more of our offensive skills.”

 

Jefferson had some struggles with the Vikings in the first half as they struggled to shoot the ball, especially from downtown, which was their strong point throughout the season. Some quick transition points by LaBrae helped push them to an eleven-point lead in the second quarter. The Falcons, however, pushed it down to a 33-27 Viking game at intermission. Pisano thought that LaBrae was able to build up that lead thanks to those kinds of uncontested shots and misses. At halftime, he wanted his guys to get back to their game. 

 

“I just told them that we really, honestly, couldn’t play any worse, not just shooting. They were in there complaining at halftime about the shots, and I said this game’s not about the shots. You gave them five uncontested layups, which is ten points, and two uncontested, wide-open threes, which was, again, 16 of the 33 free, and that’s what I told them. I said this is a defensive game and a rebounding game. It came down to that. We weren’t doing that in the first half, forget that we couldn’t score, you know, we struggled shooting the ball, and that’s exactly what I told them at halftime.’’

 

Thanks to Pisano’s halftime speech, the Falcons came storming out of the gate and would have a strong 22-13 third quarter, thanks to better rebounding and better shooting. It was a tight fourth quarter as both teams were exchanging quick buckets and free throws. That was in part thanks to both teams picking up the tempo. Jefferson had many opportunities to put the game away in regulation and overtime, but couldn’t capitalize on most of those chances. They, however, did it for good on their third chance in the overtime period, also thanks to the Falcons making 10 of 14 foul shots on the night for 71.4%. Pisano stressed some costly turnovers down the stretch in those final minutes.

“Well, we made a bunch of bone-headed plays, you can say it. We made bone-headed plays down the stretch in regulation, a couple of drives to the hoop when we didn’t need to, off-balance. Just bring the ball out and run something and hopefully they’ll learn from it. You know, our program, Jefferson’s program hasn’t been deep into the playoffs in about six or seven years, so, wow. These kids grew up watching it when that group in 2015 was [in it], so they learned something tonight, and you know something, the big thing is, we just survived, not playing the greatest game, but we survived in it.”

 

The Falcons improve to 18-6 with the victory. Brock Bean led all scorers with 20 points. Jefferson will play in the district final at Howland on Friday night against the winner of the Campbell-Middlefield Cardinal game tomorrow night. A team that has averaged around 73 points a game throughout the season, Pisano will bring his high-powered Falcons into battle with their potential opponent in hopes of winning Jefferson’s first district championship in school history on the boys’ side.

 

“We’re going to prepare the same as we would if we were playing any other game. We’re going to do the things. We’re going to try to improve defensive rebounding, we’re going to play solid defense, we’re going to try to get out and run and hopefully more shots fall Friday night. Hopefully we bring our offensive game that we have the potential to score 85 on any given night, and that wasn’t there tonight, so, really either team, it’s not like we’re going to prepare any different.We change defenses, we mix things up, and just, hopefully we’re making shots.”

 

LaBrae ends the regular season at 16-6 with the heartbreaking loss. Devin Carter led the Vikings with 18, with Tre-Von Drake behind at 17, and Blake Kahnell at 16. This will be the second year in a row that the Vikings have lost in the district semifinals. Losing six seniors to graduation in May, coach Chad Kiser will start preparing for next year in hopes of winning their second district title in four years.

 

YSN’s Noah Ricks got a chance to talk to winning coach Rob Pisano following tonight’s contest. You can watch the full interview below.