WHITFIELD OVERTAKES SCOTT CITY LATE 66-58

PARK HILLS -- There were no miracles in the works for Scott City on Saturday.

The Rams, who pulled off a most unlikely comeback on Wednesday night, saw Whitfield come back from a six-point fourth-quarter deficit as Scott City's final four hopes were demolished 66-58 in a state quarterfinal game at Park Hills Central High School.

Scott City, after holding the lead for most of the game, was tied at 53 with 3:00 to go, but turned the ball over five times in its final 10 possessions.

The Rams turned the ball over 24 times with 11 of them coming in the fourth quarter.

"We just made some bad decisions and some costly turnovers against their half-court trap," said Scott City coach Derek McCord. "I feel we outplayed them for three quarters, but they're a good basketball team with a deep bench. We stopped attacking and we got tentative."

"We play at a pace that most teams can't keep up with," Whitfield coach Rich Fanning said. "We attack our opposition even if the other team wants to dictate the tempo. At the end of the game we're still fresh and it wears people down. At halftime I knew we could pull out a win.

"We felt we could exploit their guard play. We felt that was one of their weaknesses. Although they are fundamentally sound."

Going into the fourth quarter, Scott City owned a 49-43 lead, but was outscored 23-9 in the final eight minutes.

Dan Oppland cut Scott City's lead to 51-49 with 5:04 left in the game.

On the next possession, Sample made the first of two foul shots to make it 52-49.

With 4:08 left to play, Jon Norris tied the game at 52 on a conventional 3-point play.

Ron Watson, with 3:02 left to go, hit the first of two foul shots to give the Rams a 53-52 edge.

Dan Oppland was fouled after Watson's second miss and had a chance to tie it or give the Wildcats the lead, but missed the front end of a one-and-one.

Torre Finley of Whitfield tied the game at 53 with 2:02 left by making the second of two free throws.

After a Scott City turnover, Whitfield took its first lead in a long time when Norris sprinted out for a fast-break layup and converted a 3-point play after drawing Sample's fifth foul. Norris gave Whitfield a 56-53 lead with 1:42 left.

Scott City turned the ball over once again and Finley made two free throws, giving the Wildcats a 58-53 lead with 1:30 to go.

Norris made a wild shot with 1:00 left to give the Wildcats a 60-53 lead to basically seal the game.

Johnston played the game of his life for the Rams. The 6-foot-1 senior forward scored a team-high 17 points, had 10 rebounds and four steals.

Ron Watson scored 16 points for Scott City, Sample added 13 and Ryan Weatherspoon 11.

"I'm very, very proud of this team. These seniors have accomplished a lot," McCord said. "This is disappointing, but the sun will come up tomorrow. These guys were successful in basketball and they will be in life."

For Whitfield, Norris scored 24, Dan Oppland added 20 and Mike Oppland scored 11.

Scott City trailed 14-13 after the first quarter.

Whitfield got out to an 18-13 lead in the second with two quick baskets.

Scott City then ended the quarter on a 15-5 run to take a 33-28 lead into halftime.

Ben Sample hit two threes in the second quarter, his second giving Scott City a 30-22 lead at the 1:33 mark. Scott Johnston, known more for his defense than his offense, scored 13 points in the first half, including seven of eight free throws.

The Rams took a 49-41 lead late in the third quarter when Sample gathered a rebound and put up a one-hander. Scott City took a 49-43 into the fourth quarter.

Both teams shot well from the field. Scott City hit 21 of its 48 shots for 44 percent, while Whitfield hit 23 of 49 for 47 percent.