Oldham Stops Grant, 60-56 in 2003 Region Final Re-Match

Dry Ridge, KY - The Oldham County Colonels watched the Grant County Braves erase a thirteen point lead with a 17-4 burst to begin the fourth period, but they hit their last twelve free throws en route to a 60-56 victory.

After Max Kuiper, who scored twelve of his team-high 22 points in the third quarter, scored the final six points of the period to give OCHS its biggest lead of the night at 44-31, the Braves rallied.

With Oldham leading, 48-38, Dustin Plunkett and Adam Riley sandwiched a pair of three-pointers around two free throws by Plunkett to pull the Braves to within two at 48-46 midway through the quarter. After an Oldham time out, Roger Blackburn tied the game at 48 with 3:48 yet to play. It was first time the teams had been tied since 2-2.

From there, Oldham re-grouped and hit twelve of twelve free throws to claim the win.

Freshman reserve Josh Koebel looked like neither as he calmly sank two free throws with 2:45 to play to put the Colonels on top for good. John McCarthy followed with two free throws to give OCHS a four point lead at 52-48. Plunkett scored on a layup, was fouled, and hit the free throw to pull Grant to within one at the 1:51 mark, but the OCHS defense shut down the Braves from there.

Despite the defensive efforts of the Colonels, in particular the inspired play over the final two minutes by guards Ryan Beaumont and Brandon Berry, the game's outcome was uncertain until the final seconds.

With OCHS still leading by just one at 54-53, and the Colonels holding the ball, Beaumont was fouled and hit both free throws to push the lead to three with 34.4 seconds remaining. After Grant's Adam Riley was called for an illegal screen with 15.8 seconds to go, Berry hit two free throws to make it a two-possession game at 58-53.

Beaumont then iced the game with two free throws with 5.4 seconds showing. Plunkett accounted for the final margin with a three at the buzzer.

For the game, OCHS was an impressive 18 of 21 at the line for 85.7%.

Five Colonels - Beaumont, Berry, Chris McIntosh, Chris Gordon, and Koebel - were a combined 14 for 14 at the line.

Both teams played without a key player. Two-year starter Robert Bounds, who averages 20 points per game, did not suit up due to an undisclosed ailment. Oldham County played without the services of starting forward Brandon Gathof, who was out of town. Gathof averages about eleven points per game and is one of the team's leading rebounders.
After leading just 9-7 after a lethargic first period, OCHS appeared to take control in the second and third periods. The Colonels led, 27-21, at the half, when center Max Kuiper erupted in the third period.

With the Colonels leading late in the third, 36-29, Kuiper personally outscored the Braves, 8-2, to give OCHS its largest lead of the night, 44-31, heading into the decisive fourth period.

In the period, Kuiper was six of seven from the floor.

The win gives OCHS a 19-5 record heading into their season finale against Meade County in Buckner on Friday. Grant County falls to 9-14.

Oldham County - 9 18 17 16 - 60
Grant County - 7 14 10 25 - 56

OCHS (19-5) - Kuiper 22, Koebel 9, Beaumont 8, McCarthy 8, Berry 7, McIntosh 4, Gordon 2
GCHS (9-14) - Plunkett 26, Tabor 8, Howe 6, Blackburn 6, Hansel 3, Riley 3, Schlueter 2, Dezarn 2