By MATT CRESS
HOMECROFT — Through its unlikely run through the postseason, the Borden boys’ basketball team gave its school, its community and fans throughout Southern Indiana something they’ll always remember.
But, as the team emerged teary-eyed from its locker room on Saturday, what was likely running through their heads was a third quarter they’ll wish they could forget.
The Braves — in control for the duration of the first half — went ice cold after the intermission, going 5-of-24 from the floor over the final 16 minutes. Indianapolis Lutheran took advantage by outscoring Borden 41-18 over that span and coasted to a 59-41 win in the Class A Southport Semistate.
“It’s a feeling I hate and it’s a feeling the kids hate,” said Borden coach Doc Nash. “That’s what makes this a special group of kids.”
Playing in front of a rowdy crowd that bought up Borden’s allotment of 1,300 tickets in seven hours — a group bolstered by a sea of New Albany fans pouring in to lend their support — the Braves looked poised to extend their magical season on the largest of stages. More than 7,000 fans filed into Southport for the contest, a far cry from Borden’s modest gym and its capacity of 1,500.
The Braves (20-6) opened the game with a 3-pointer from senior Alex Ooley and led 9-2 after a steal by Chris Beam and a layup by Drake Potts.
The Saints (22-4), veterans of games against Indianapolis-area powers like Lawrence North and Roncalli, struggled early against the Braves’ defensive pressure, committing six turnovers in the first eight minutes.
“I thought we played well in the first half — we made shots,” Nash said. “After that, we just missed a ton of shots. You have to give credit to their defense, but making shots cures a lot of your ills.”
Still, the ills would come later, as Borden grabbed a 17-8 edge — its largest of the game — following an inside basket from center Kaden Nolot with 5:53 to play in the second quarter.
It didn’t take long for Lutheran guard Ryan Maddigan to respond.
Maddigan kept the Saints close, repeatedly slicing into the lane for easy baskets to score his team’s next seven points and keep them within striking distance at the half. Maddigan capped off his nine-point second period with a spinning bank shot to send the Saints into the intermission down 23-18.
“I’ll have to take total credit for the loss,” Nash said. “Maddigan was much better than we thought he was. He plays with a lot of passion for the game and he’s a winner.”
Maddigan’s performance did more than keep his team afloat — his dribble penetration finally blew the lid off the Borden defense.
It took less than two minutes for Maddigan to find Brad Naffziger for an easy layup and the Saints’ first lead of the game, at 25-24.
And it didn’t get any easier from there.
Potts, who led Borden with nine points, missed two free throws that would have reclaimed the lead. Forwards Michael Chester, Dalton Wagoner and Lee Kirchgessner went a combined 5-of-19 from the floor. And Ooley, the team’s most steady outside threat, missed nine shots in a row after making his first.
“It was a tough game,” said Ooley, who had seven points in his final performance. “As a team, sometimes we make our shots and then there are days like today.”
A quick four-point burst pulled Borden to within 35-30 late in the third and the Braves seemed to have recaptured a bit of their former momentum. But Kirchgessner’s attempted baseball pass on an inbound was intercepted by Zach Cutshaw. He fired it to Jared Broughton, who buried a 3-point dagger at the buzzer that seemed to finally deflate a team that had made its reputation on defying the odds.
“Nobody expected us to come this far,” Ooley said. “It’s been a long journey and we’ve had a lot of fun along the way. We certainly didn’t want it to end today.”
As Borden’s offensive woes continued, Cutshaw owned the final period, scoring nine points during a final spurt that turned a 40-32 Lutheran lead to a 49-35 cushion.
The Braves will lose two seniors to graduation in Ooley and Nolot, who delivered five points in his final effort. Beam finished with six points for Borden.
It was a roster that gave the school its first 20-win season, a share of the Southern Athletic Conference championship, and a victory over then-Class A No. 1 Orleans. And all that before winning the school’s first sectional title on its home court and running through a snow-interrupted regional with wins over defending state runner-up Barr-Reeve and Orleans once more.
Surely he thought about what had been lost, but as hundreds of black-clad well-wishers murmured their support, Nash also seemed resolute about all that had been won.
“These kids have no reason to hang their heads,” he said. “We’re disappointed. But for these kids to get to come out and play in front of 7,500 people is just a great feeling. They’ll always remember that.”
INDPLS LUTHERAN 6 12 20 21—59
BORDEN 11 12 7 11—41
Lutheran (22-4) — Borst 14, Cutshaw 11, Maddigan 17, Naffziger 12, Lockwood 2, Nowakoski 0, Broughton 3.
Borden (20-6) — Beam 7, Ooley 7, Kirchgessner 4, Potts 8, Nolot 5, Wagoner 6, Rich 0, Chester 4, Adams 0.
Three-point field goals — Lutheran 4 (Borst 2, Cutshaw, Broughton); Borden 1 (Ooley).
Rebounds — Lutheran 29 (Cutshaw 14); Borden 22 (Potts 9).
Turnovers — Lutheran 16, Borden 13.
