March 28, 2024

Cards hold on for 57-54 win over I-35

LEON — Free throws made all the difference in Central Decatur’s 57-54 win over Interstate 35 here on Dec. 9.

Both teams missed 12 free throws, but in the final 48 seconds of a one-point game, the Cardinals shot 4-of-6 from the free throw line, while Interstate 35 shot just 2-of-6.

“Missed free throws killed us,” Interstate 35 head coach Nate Rankin said. “Big games like this, we missed 12 and lost by three.”

Central Decatur took a nine-point lead at 49-40 when Conner Welch dished to Noah Simon for a 3-pointer with about 5:34 left in the game.

But over the course of the next 2:25 of the game, Interstate 35 responded with a 9-0 run, as the Roadrunners converted defense into offense, tying the game at 49-49 with 3:09 left.

Jaylan White twice converted steals into layups and Zach Goering had an offensive rebound and putback during the run.

After a Central Decatur timeout, Interstate 35 took a 50-49 lead on a Daniel Kennedy free throw.

White banked in a driving shot to give the Roadrunners a 52-51 lead with 1:32 to go in the game.

But White picked up his fourth foul going for an offensive rebound with :48.3 left, which led to a Simon bucket in the post that put Central Decatur up 53-52.

“The late foul on Jaylan, that fourth one when we’re up one with 30 seconds to go,” Rankin said. “If we get it in his hands, the game is over. We just never got to that point. CD is a good team. We’ve got to battle back. They got the upper hand tonight.”

Simon then sank two free throws with :15 remaining to give the Cardinals a 55-53 lead, and Noah Bishop shot 2-4 from the line in the final five seconds to seal the win.

“We got up nine and those guys made a run in two minutes and tied it up, and actually took the lead,” Central Decatur head coach Zach Clark said. “We found a way to fight back and make some stops and make some free throws.”

Bishop shot just 4-13 from the free throw line for the game, but his two free throws in the final five seconds, along with his play defensively throughout the game were key to the Cardinal victory.

“He was so active defensively,” Clark said. “He had a couple of steals and a couple of layups in transition. He made Jaylan pick up his third foul at the end of the first half. He had a great night for us.”

Simon led all scorers with 16 points, while Aaron Linhart added 12 and Peyton Pedersen scored 10 points before fouling out midway through the fourth quarter. Bishop scored eight points.

Taylor O’Dea led Interstate 35 with 13 points, as White was the only other Roadrunner to reach double figures with 12 points. Goering and Lucas Ealy scored eight points apiece and Brennon McCuddin scored six.