Div. IV Boys Tournament: The Dream ends - Friday, March 23, 2012 | Courier Electronic Edition

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Friday, March 23, 2012

Div. IV Boys Tournament: The Dream ends

By DAVE HANNEMAN

Staff Writer

COLUMBUS -- Even at 6-foot-7, Neil Gingerich is sometimes overlooked in the Berlin Hiland scheme of things.

Nobody could overlook the impact he had on Arlington, though, in Thursday's Division IV state semifinal at Value City Arena.

"I just tried to do what I could," Gingerish said after scoring 12 points, grabbing 13 rebounds and blocking seven shots as Hiland ended Arlington's Cinderella season with a 46-37 win over the Red Devils.

Asked what he was happiest with, the points the rebounds or the blocks, Gingerich came up with a fourth option.

"The win," he said.

Hiland's victory sets up a No. 1 vs. No. 2 state championship showdown at 10:30 a.m. Saturday between the second-ranked Hawks (26-1) and Ohio's defending Division IV state champion, and 27-0 Jackson Center. The Tigers, who are coached by Upper Sandusky graduate and former University of Findlay assistant Scott Elchert, earned a spot in the final by overcoming a 15-point deficit and knocking off Columbus Africentric 53-50 in Thursday's first semifinal.

Arlington, which had never before advanced past the district tournament, was hoping to match the storybook ending the Red Devils girls team wrote a week ago by winning the Division IV state title.

The Red Devils boys battled Hiland end to end and basket for basket, but in the end the Hawks' height proved too much.

"We're not holding our heads," Arlington coach Jason Vermillion said after the Red Devils ended their season with a best-ever 23-4 record.

"We gave it our best effort, but it wasn't good enough today. We got beat by a better team."

Hiland's big guns are Dylan Kaufman, a 6-5 senior guard who is headed to the University of Findlay, and 6-7 senior Seger Bonifant, whose last-second 3-pointer gave the Hawks a 51-50 regional final win over Richmond Heights. Between them, they average over 33 points a game.

Kaufman did have a game-high 20 points Thursday. Bonifant added nine. But Gingerich may have made the biggest impact.

"We were trying to take away their best player and Gingerich goes for 12 (points), 13 (rebounds) and seven (blocks)," Vermillion said.

"He was a huge factor."

With Arlington's 6-4 standout Thayne Recker trying to contain Bonifant, Gingerich went off for three quick baskets in the first quarter.

Kaufman and Bonifant fueled an 11-0 second-quarter run that gave Hiland a 25-20 lead at the half before Gingerich took over again, scoring twice on offensive rebounds and setting up another second-chance basket by Jason Miller that put the Hawks up 34-27 heading into the fourth quarter.

Arlington crept back within 34-30 when Wes Corbin hit a free throw, then came up with a steal that Recker converted on the other end.

Kaufman, Ohio's Division IV co-Player of the Year, took over, scoring 10 of Hiland's final 12 points to nail it down.

"(State experience) helps a little bit, but it was nerve-wracking out there," Kaufman said.

"We did not want to lose. We came too far to lose this game."

Recker capped an outstanding Arlington career with 14 points and seven rebounds.

"We started with Neil (Gingerich) on him, then Seger (Bonifant), and Dylan if needed," Schlabach said of Recker.

"We blocked some of his shots early. But he adjusted and he's a strong kid. We made him work hard but he's a good player."

Sophomore point guard Andrew Hunter added 11 points for the Red Devils.

Arlington spread its offense out wide, trying to draw Hiland's big guys away from the paint and open driving lanes to the basket.

"We tried to get their length away from the basket," Vermillion said.

"We haven't faced 6-7, 6-7 a lot this year. What Thayne is really good at is getting offensive rebounds but if we missed, their second guy was getting the rebound. We didn't get many second chances.

A 2 for 11 effort from beyond the 3-point line hampered Arlignton as well.

"As a staff we felt if we kept them under 50 (points) we would have a good chance," Vermillion said,

"But we had to hit some shots and we didn't do that today."

Arlington and Hiland went toe to toe from the opening tip.

Corbin hit a 3-pointer, Recker powered inside for early baskets, Hunter scored off a steal and Michael Blunk slashed to the basket to end the first quarter with the Red Devils up 14-10.

Another drive and basket by Hunter gave Arlington a six-point lead in the opening seconds of the second period. But the Red Devils went cold and Kaufman and Bonifant got hot, igniting the 11-0 surge that turned the game around.

"We call it consecutive stops and consecutive scores," said Hilkand coach Mark Schlabach.

"From a confidence standpoint that (11-0 run) was huge. It was as importsant to the game as anything.

"People think that because we won it last year we should be used to it, we should be calm. I don't care what team you play, it's tough down here.

"Arlington's a good team. It was a hard fought game.

"If you're able to win at this point of the year, you're pleased you get to prepare for another game."

ARLINGTON (23-4)

Recker 6-14 2-3 14, Hunter 5-11 0-1 11, Corbin 2-8 1-2 6, Blunk 1-3 2-4 4, Leonard 1-4 0-1 2, Inniger 0-2 0-0 0, McBride 0-0 0-0 0, J. Freed 0-3 0-0 0. Totals: 15-45 5-11--37.

BERLIN HILAND (26-1)

Kaufman 9-15 2-3 20, Gingerich 5-10 2-2 12, Bonifant 3-7 2-2 9, Miller 1-4 1-2 3, Gerber 1-3 0-0 2, Miller 0-1 0-0 0, Ropp 0-0 0-0 0, Yoder 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-40 7-9--46.

Arlington 14 6 7 10 -- 37

Berlin Hiland 10 15 9 12 -- 46

3-point goals: Arlington 2-11 (Hunter 1-3, Corbin 1-2, Leonard 0-2, Inniger 0-2, Freed 0-1, Recker 0-1); Berlin Hiland 1-4 (Bonifant 1-3, Kaufman 0-1).

Rebounds: Arlington 25 (Blunk 8); Berlin Hiland 31 (Gingerich 13). Assists: Arlington 7 (Corbin 4); Berlin Hiland 5 (Gingerich 3).

Total fouls: Arlington 10, Berlin Hiland 12.

Fouled out: Arlington, Leonard.

ATTENDANCE: 10,203.

Hanneman, 419-427-8407

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