Action in the boys’ half of the Porter County Conference Basketball Tournament kicked-off on Tuesday evening with a pair of thrillers. The Washington Township Senators defeated the Morgan Township Cherokees 54-49 and the Boone Grove Wolves topped the Hebron Hawks 53-52.
Both teams had to overcome early deficits to secure their spots in the tourney’s semi-final. The Senators, for their part, struggled early-on as the Cherokees’ set an aggressive tempo. Washington Township Head Coach Scott Bowersock noted that his squad was not matching their usual pace.
“After the first quarter I told them we looked two steps too slow,” he said. “Our program is predicated on defensive energy and defensive pressure, and in that first quarter we allowed Morgan to dictate the offensive pace. We want to be the ones dictating the pace, both offensively and defensively.”
The Senators were revitalized after Bowersock’s comment and pulled the Cherokees into a deadlock that lasted until they pulled ahead in the final minute. Washington Township was able to then seal the win thanks to a solid group performance at the free throw line.
“For us, [the free throws] are huge” Bowersock said. “We had to hit those free throws for us to be successful. What I was pleased with was that we hit those free throws when it really mattered. We probably only missed two free throws in the last six or eight minute stretch, which was huge not only for when we got the lead, but to extend the lead.”
Washington Township will face Boone Grove in the semi-finals, who overcame similar early stumbles in their shooting to stay deadlocked with Hebron. Trailing by two points with just 14 seconds left on the clock in the final quarter, Junior Mason Bills drained an open three to beat the Hawks by one.
“I had the ball in my hands, and that was not what we drew up so I was not expecting that at all,” Bills said. “I didn’t realize I was that open, so I was like, ‘I gotta shoot with confidence now.’ So I shot, and it went in.”
Washington and Boone Grove will be back in action starting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday evening at BooneGrove.