Resilient Thurgood Marshall outlasts Logan Elm in OT

Mike Parris, March 27, 2009 12:08 p.m.

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Dayton Thurgood Marshall's Juwan Staten (3) goes up for two over Circleville Logan Elm's Brandon Amann, center right, during the first quarter. - (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)

Dayton Thurgood Marshall overcame a double-digit fourth quarter deficit and then outscored Circleville Logan Elm 14-5 in overtime to capture a resilient 62-53 victory in a Division II State Semifinal Friday morning at Ohio State’s Value City Arena.

Trailing 48-45 late in the fourth, Thurgood Marshall junior guard Shawn Robinson came to the rescue, sinking a three pointer from the right wing with 5.8 seconds left to force overtime.

Facing a 10-point deficit entering the final quarter, Robinson was the catalyst of their comeback efforts. He bolstered the Cougars’ full-court pressure and forced several steals from the rattled Logan Elm backcourt. He parlayed one into his own 15-foot baseline jumper and fed backcourt mate Juwan Staten for an easy layup on another, fueling a 9-2 run to pull the Cougars within three.

“It was crunch time and I knew I needed to make some steals,” said Robinson of his play down the stretch. “I saw fear and knew I had to take advantage.”

The first half saw the two teams trade scoring runs and featured each squad’s respective star make big plays. Logan Elm shooting guard Brandon Amann scored 10 first half points while Thurgood Marshall’s dynamic junior point guard Juwan Staten tallied 12 points and five rebounds in the first two stanzas.

Tied 22-22 at halftime, neither team was able to create any significant separation coming out of halftime, but the momentum shifted late in the third quarter on a Brandon Amann three from the right wing to push the Logan Elm lead to 33-29.

Staten was called for an offensive foul on the ensuing possession, giving the ball back to the Braves.  Junior Logan Hauserman put in a layup and was fouled, and his free throw pushed the lead out to 36-29. The 6-foot-7 Hauserman wasn’t finished there, however.

The big junior threw up a roadblock on a Thurgood Marshall drive to the basket with 20 seconds left and then banked in a jumper from the free throw line as the buzzer ended the quarter, capping a 14-3 Logan Elm run and giving the Braves a 42-32 advantage heading down the stretch.

But Thurgood Marshall refused to fold.

“I had to pick my head up when they went up 12 (early in the fourth),” admitted Staten, who finished with 24 points, eight rebounds and four assists. “The game’s not over until there are zeroes on the clock.”

Thurgood Marshall, usually known for its stellar outside shooting was able to shake off an uncharacteristic cold night from beyond the arc. The Cougars shot a paltry 5-of-27 from three-point range (18.5 %).

“We were able to overcome,” said head coach John Ralph. “Your job becomes easy when you have guys who come together for work towards a common goal.”

In addition to Staten and Robinson (15 points, six steals), Ralph got a terrific game from senior forward DeAngelo Gates. He posted a double-double (the first of the tournament) with 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.

Thurgood Marshall (22-4) will play the winner of the Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary vs. Columbus St. Francis DeSales contest on Saturday evening for the Division II State Championship.