Game 99: Sherrard @ Monmouth-Roseville (Boy's Basketball)

Game 99
(2/19/10)
Sherrard @ Monmouth-Roseville (Boy's Basketball)

It's hard to believe that this would be the FINAL night of Olympic Conference basketball. The league formed in 1976 with Abingdon, Aledo, Knoxville, Westmer, Orion, Sherrard, Rockridge, and Monmouth. During it's final season (2009-10), four of the six teams are charter members (Orion, Sherrard, Monmouth-Roseville, Rockridge), with Farmington and Macomb the other two schools in the conference. The Orion Chargers were the league's first boy's basketball conference title-holder, and after this night's action, would be the final league champion (tied with Macomb). Knoxville left the Olympic in 1982 and became a charter member of the Prairieland Conference, but returned to the Olympic ten years later. Ironically enough, Knoxville rejoined the Prairieland at the start of the 2009-10 school year. Farmington joined the Olympic in 1992, and voted to leave the conference at the end of this school year, rejoining the Prairieland Conference also. Five of the six remaining Olympic Conference teams will play under the West Central Conference banner beginning in 2010-11. These five, along with Illini West will make up the West Central's North division next year.

Prior to the game, I received a text message from Monmouth-Roseville Music Director Kevin Ferry. He was my color commentator during football season for the Titans, and got to know Kevin over the last few years when he was an assistant football coach for the B-PC/A Spartans. This is his first year teaching in Monmouth, and he formed a singing group called Velocity. They perform the National Anthem at select games. He sent me a message informing me that Velocity has been picked to sing the National Anthem prior to a St. Louis Cardinals game on July 3rd at Busch Stadium. When Ferry was at Avon, his group sang at Wrigley Field before a Cubs game.

Since I was in the "Shoebox", the name designated to the Monmouth-Roseville gym, I needed to arrive a good 45 minutes before the JV tipoff, to ensure I wouldn't have to climb over fans in the stands. Even at 5:15, there was a healthy amount of people already in the gym, which was to be expected for Senior Night. It was especially hot in the gym tonight, and it didn't help that I had to carry three bags of equipment. Normally we leave the Marti units at each gym (Monmouth & Galesburg), but it was needed for recent remote broadcasts, adding a heavy load to my arsenal of broadcast equipment.

As the JV game neared tipoff, Monmouth-Roseville cameraman Max Richardson set up shot on our broadcast balcony. We shared tips on how to reach the summit of the balconies, with the least amount of resistance climbing through the fans. His idea was to scale the side of the wall, but he is also much younger, I might break a hip. I suggested a hole be drilled through the center of the balcony, and installing a fireman's pole, adding a little bit of fun to the mix. In addition, this could give the broadcasters a workout, by trying to climb up the pole!

Sam Brooks was my broadcast partner for the night, with Jeff Thompson in southern Illinois watching his son, Brian, pitch for Quincy University. When Jeff is out of town, he normally finds a way to listen to the broadcast, or at least text the broadcast crew with witty comments. In return, we chide him on air. After receiving one of his texts in the third quarter, I informed the listeners that Jeff couldn't make it to the broadcast because his nails were still wet from his afternoon manicure. Speaking of third quarter, at the conclusion of the third quarter, and coming back from a commercial break, I informed listeners that I was Sam Brooks...not Beau Spencer. Sam found my blooper pretty comical.

When these two teams first met at Sherrard, the Titans took a 17-16 lead after the first quarter, then did not hold a lead until midway through the third quarter. Tonight, the Titans would once again take a late lead in the first quarter....17-16 and enter the second quarter just like the first meeting.

Markus Hunter was En Fuego tonight, hitting five three-pointers in the game, and scorching the nets for a game-high 22 points. The senior scored 14 points in the first half. Other seniors recognized on Senior Night for Monmouth-Roseville are; Cory Jensen, B.J. Salyers, Cody Whiteside, DeAndre McClendon, Cody Crouse, and Patrick Thompson, along with manager Eric Munoz.

Sherrard took a 31-28 lead into halftime, behind Mitch Heiar's 10 points. John Sedlock added 7 points before the break, and Andy Anderson pitched in 6 points. The Tigers were scoring at will in the paint, and were also winning the rebound battle all night.

Through three quarters, it was still a three-point game, with both teams knocking down some long range shots, and it was the Tigers over the Titans 47-44 heading into the final frame. Sherrard was able to close it out in the fourth quarter from the free throw line, scoring 10 of their 15 points in the fourth quarter from the charity stripe. Sherrard went (10-11) in the final eight minutes from the free throw line to claim a 62-53 win.

The Titans finished the game with 14 turnovers, and 8 of them came in the first quarter alone. The teams combined for 14 first quarter turnovers. Sherrard ended the game with 17 turnovers. Each team finished the regular season with a (17-8) record, with a possible showdown at Sherrard in the Class 2A Regional next week. Monmouth-Roseville is the top seed, while Sherrard is the (#2) seed.

The Quest File Notes
Game 99
Date: 2/19/10
Result: Sherrard seals game at the free throw line in a 62-53 win at Monmouth-Roseville
Miles: 70