BB SEYMOUR 1A SEMI: #10 Borden holds off University, 47-44

By Gene Richards
Contributing Writer

SEYMOUR – For the first time in its school history, Class A Borden is headed to the boys basketball state finals.

The 10th-ranked Braves put together a courageous rally in the late going, overcame a four-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat University, 47-44, in the southern semistate March 16 at Seymour.

Coming into the game, Borden – a school of just 250 students – had won eight straight, including a 43-42 regional title game upset of third-ranked Barr-Reeve a week ago.

The Braves (23-3) jumped out to a 7-0 lead and stretched it to 11-0 before University got its first bucket of the game with 1:24 left in the opening period. Borden took a 15-3 advantage in the closing minute, but Trailblazers sophomore guard Robbie Johnson nailed a 3-point buzzer-beater to close the gap to 15-8.

The two teams traded baskets in the second quarter as the pace slowed a bit. Then Johnson (a team-high 14 points) came to the rescue again by hitting a pair of threes, but Borden stayed on top at the half, 26-21.

Johnson gave University (15-12) its first lead of the game at 30-28 on a twisting layup, but Braves senior guard Billy Kirchgessner hit a pair of free throws to knot the score at 30. The third quarter ended with Borden on top, 37-33.

University used its size advantage to go inside the paint, and the Trailblazers eventually took a 42-40 lead with 3:35 left. But senior Michael Lynch split the lane and hit a driving layup to give the Braves a 46-44 edge.

A free throw by Kirchgessner preceded a last-possession turnover by University to seal the victory for the Braves, who will face 2008 Class A state champion Triton for the 1A state title March 23 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Senior Jalen McCoy led all scorers with 17 points, including all four of Borden’s 3-pointers, in addition to make the game-clinching steal in the last 10 seconds. He was joined in double figures by Lynch with 11 points, while Kirchgessner added nine.

"These kids have great character," said seventh-year Borden coach Doc Nash. "They're great kids who love each other and play for each other and the community.

“It's just an outstanding team."

Asked he if could have imagined at the beginning of the season a trip to the state finals, Nash was candid.

“Not with this group” he said. “But we came here with the goal to win a state championship.

"They've really matured along the way and bought into what we wanted them to do and stuck together."

The box score:

Team               Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   Final
Borden            15    11      7    14    47
University          8    13    16     7    44

Borden (23-3): McCoy 17, Lynch 11, Kirchgessner 9, Vick 9, Bachman 1. Totals: 12 FG 19-32 FT 47
University (15-12): Johnson 14, Dixon 9, Liston 6, Wott 6, Forkin 4, Maranto 3, Murdock 2, Matthews 0, Grubaums 0. Totals: 17 FG 5-9 FT 44
3-pointers: Borden 4 (McCoy 4), University 5 (Wott 2, Maranto, Johnson, Forkin)