Missed free throws hurt mikes in 40-38 playoff loss
MONESSEN – Just like in any other sport, basketball can be a game of runs when it comes to offense. That was certainly apparent when Carmichaels squared off with St. Joseph during Saturday afternoon’s opening round game in the WPIAL Class A playoffs at Monessen High School. Both teams went on several long runs while the other struggled to get its offense going. However, with just 2.5 seconds to go, the game came down to each team’s best player.
For Carmichaels, it was forward Jeremy Ganocy and for St. Joseph, it was 1,400-point guard Mike Barkowski.
With his team trailing by two, Ganocy received the in-bounds pass and squared up to fire over Barkowski to try and tie the game. But, as Ganocy went up for the shot, Barkowski swiftly swiped the ball away and time expired as the Spartans held on to win a tough, physical contest, 40-38.
“That was ironic,” St. Joseph coach Kelly Robinson said. “In a situation like that, who knows what happens? They call a foul, (Ganocy) hits his shots and we are in overtime. I’m just glad Mike stripped the ball like that.”
The win puts St. Joseph (15-10) in the quarterfinals, where they face the winner of Serra Catholic and Trinity Christian Friday or Saturday at a location that is yet to be determined.
For Carmichaels coach Don Williams, the game came down to his team not taking advantage at the free throw line, where his team attempted 25 foul shots to St. Joseph’s six.
“We just missed too many foul shots,” Williams said. “That really hurt us, but you can’t ask any more in the way the kids played. They came out and played with heart and desire and they’ve been doing that all year. My hat’s off to them.”
The game started out with the Spartans gaining a 13-7 advantage over the cold-shooting Mikes (18-6) after a quarter of play. The second period belonged to Carmichaels, however, as they reeled off a 12-0 run with 6:58 left in the period to turn a 17-9 deficit into a 21-17 lead early in the third quarter.
After falling behind, the Spartans came right back with an 8-0 run of their own, thanks in large part to their superior three-point shooting. St. Joseph knocked down five treys on the day, where as Carmichaels was shut out behind the arc.
“We knew that they could shoot from beyond the arc, but I thought, defensively, holding them in the 40s was real good, because they’re averaging about 64 points a game,” Williams said.
When the third period ended, momentum was definitely back in the Spartans’ corner as they buried the Mikes 17-5 and took a 34-25 lead. But, once again, another run was on the way.
Carmichaels was able to curtail the Spartans long-range attack as they trimmed the lead to 36-34 halfway through the fourth period. Joby Lapkowicz knocked down two foul shots with 2:41 to play to tie the game, 36-36. The Mikes took the lead back less then a minute later when Ian McCombs made one of two free throws to put his team up 37-36 with just under three minutes to play.
With the teams continuing to trade free throws as time ebbed away, Barkowski recorded the two biggest points of his game-high, 17-point day to put his team up 40-38 with just 23 seconds left in the contest.
Carmichaels managed one last possession, but could not make a final run to grasp victory and time ran out on their season.
“It seemed like there were a lot of streaks,” Robinson said. “We got a nice lead, and then they came back. It seemed like a very streaky game.”
Along with Barkowski’s big afternoon, the Spartans also got a double-digit effort from Josh Diez, who poured in 13 points.
Ganocy’s 16 points paced the Mikes. Carmichaels also received 12 points from Ian McCombs.
Williams hopes that his team can learn from the heart-breaking loss.
“I hope it helps them down the road,” Williams said. “They’ve been there and they know what it takes to get to that next level.’