Published: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 11:06 PM MDT
NAMPA -- After Lewiston center Peter Gregg rocked the rim, slamming down the final two points of the state 5A boys basketball championship game on Saturday and sealing Lewiston's 56-48 win, Madison coach Bill Hawkins could only reflect on the amazing run that his short-handed Bobcats had made to get to the state championship game -- and almost win the title.
"You cannot fault the resilient hearts of these kids," Hawkins said. "They had a chance. Just a couple of bounces go our way when it's a two point game, right there it could be anybody's baby."
Lewiston (22-4) opened up a 45-35 fourth-quarter lead as Jared Heitzman nailed one of his five 3-pointers to open the quarter.
But in what was a recurring theme during the game, the Bobcats wouldn't go away, pulling to within two points at 47-45, as Brady Hastings hit a pair of free throws with 2:39 remaining in the fourth quarter. His free throws were preceded by a Bo Dayton steal and a layup.
But the Bengal defense didn't allow the Cats to get much after that. Lewiston also hit on seven of its final eight free throw attempts and the Gregg dunk to seal the victory.
Josh Fuller led all scorers with 21 points and eight rebounds for Madison (17-10).
The 6-foor-6 Fuller was the offensive leader for the Bobcats the entire tournament as he also hit on a pair of 3-pointers to go with his stellar play under the basket.
"Josh has been big for us all year long, there's no question about it," Hawkins said. "He's got such a big heart and he's got a great mind and he plays so intelligent. He's a good leader.
Hawkins also knows he will have a good chance of getting back to the Idaho Center next year, because of the return of his all-star center.
"He's just a junior and he's got a lot of potential," Hawkins said. "He had a great tournament there's no question."
Because of injuries, he was the Cats' only big man as Hawkins ran an eight-man lineup through the tournament.
Lewiston, however, boasted a large front line of Gregg (6-8) and Justin Podrabsky (6-7) to go along with their hot-shooting guards. In the end, it was too much for Madison.
Gregg had 11 points, Podrabsky had 12, Heitzman had 18 points and Ryan Strong finished with 10.
"The difference is we probably played the best team in the state Idaho," Hawkins said. "They've been ranked in the state No. 1 all year long."
The two teams played last year in the state consolation final, where the Bengals beat the Cats again. Hawkins knew that his team would probably be back, because they had all the pieces to make a good run when the season began.
"Intact we always knew that we had a chance to play for it," Hawkins said. "And when we got injured I still felt like we did. It's just that we had to be more disciplined, and run our system to a higher efficiency."
That the Cats did as they played as hard as they could in every game this season.
"Almost every game they played they were in this year," he said. "They gave themselves a chance to win and it showed in the tournament and was able to play on the greatest stage that there is."
The game started out on a Lewiston 8-2 run. But every time the Bengals surged ahead, the Cats clawed right back.
A scary moment occurred in the second quarter when Madison's Rhett Sutton got the ball on a breakaway layup. He missed, however, landing hard and clutching his knee. While he laid on the floor, Lewiston took advantage of the missing defender and hit a 3-pointer before Madison could call time out.
Sutton was not seriously hurt, as he got back into the game to a standing ovation with 2:25 left in the second quarter.
At that point, Fuller had hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 22-22. But Lewiston led at halftime, 26-22.
Madison opened up the second half with a big 3-pointer from Dayton, who finished with 10 points, then a basket by Fuller tied the game up at 29-29. But a 3-pointer by Lewiston's Strong and another 3-pointer by Heitzman extended the lead late in the third.
In the fourth, a loose ball out of bounds along Lewiston's baseline appeared to be out off of a Bengal. But the ball was awarded to Lewiston, leaving Hawkins shaking his head afterward as the momentum that was Madison's ebbed away.
"If that would've come to us, it's a two-point game. We tie it, now the pressure really comes on them and then who knows what might happen," Hawkins said.
But it was not to be Madison's night.
Hawkins credits his players for getting to the championship game.
"I feel like very one of them reached their potential, and they strived to reach their potential," Hawkins said. "And as a coach you can't ask for anything more. Because that's all you want to do, is you want to see if there is way to get kids to dig down and reach for their potential, and they did.
"I don't know how many people come up to me and said, 'Coach, wow those kids give you everything they have,' and I say, 'You know what, that's all you can ask for as a coach.'"
Lewiston 56, Madison 48
Madison 13 9 13 13 -- 48
Lewiston 14 12 16 14 -- 56
Madison--Trevor Blanchard 0, Brady Hastings 3, Bo Dayton 10, Kyle Blanchard 0, Trent Ricks 7, Austin Blair 2, Rhett Sutton 5, Josh Fuller 21. Totals 18 7-10 48.
Lewiston--Peter Gregg 11, Devin Brown 0, Ridge Fuentes 0, Justin Podrabsky 12, Mark Bolland 0, Jared Heitzman 18, Ryan Young 5, Ryan Strong 10. Totals 20 8-11 56.
3-pointers--Madison 5 (Dayton 1, Ricks 1, Sutton 1, Fuller 2), Lewiston 8 (Heitzman 5, Young 1, Strong 2). Fouls--Madison 16 (Fouled out: none), Lewiston 12 (Fouled out: none). Technicals--None.
MATT EICHNER -- editor@uvsj.com
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