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Freshman guard Monte Pettichord (14), with Coach Roy Ramirez, right, looking on, lets fly the buzzer-beating basket that lifted Dayton-Waitsburg out of a 40-40 tie to a 43-40 win over Pomeroy. Guarding Pettichord and Trent Gwinn (12) and Evan Bartels (14). The ball was in the air as time expired.
POMEROY–Monte Pettichord drained a one-third court Hail Mary shot as time expired to give Dayton-Waitsburg a dramatic 43-40 win over the Pomeroy Pirates here January 21, salvaging a game where DW held a comfortable 20-point lead at halftime.
The non-conference win set DW's season record to 2-13, 0-7 in EWAC league play. DW hosted Liberty Christian January 29 and Columbia-Burbank visits Kison Court in Waitsburg this Friday when seniors Josiah White, Seamus House and Tayven Seney will be honored in pregame ceremonies.
On Friday, Jan. 24, Liberty Christian defeated Dayton-Waitsburg 61-41 in Richland.
While the Pomeroy Pirates struggled on offense, Dayton-Waitsburg was in the zone, finishing the first half with a 28-8 lead.
"We were making our shots in the first half," said Head Coach Roy Ramirez. "We did a good job getting inside, getting the shot off the dribble."
The second half was a different story. DW was getting the looks, but the shots caromed off the iron. "We got a little bit rushed," Ramirez said. "The lead started dwindling away and we panicked a bit."
The Pirate press also "bugged" the DW offense and as the final seconds ticked down in the fourth quarter, Pirate Trent Gwinn swished a three pointer to lift the Pirates to a probable overtime at 40-40.
Working against Pirate pressure, the inbounds pass went to Shawn Evans, who dribbled up the sideline and dished to Pettichord, who lofted the winning shot.
"It was exciting for them," Ramirez said. "It's something they'll remember for a long time."
Liberty's Michael Connelly was on fire for the Patriots, hitting three pointer after three pointer to lead all scorers with 25 and a 61-41 win.
Mason Finney hit a pair of threes in the third quarter and led the team with 11 points, with Josiah White getting busy inside with 10 points, mainly from the charity stripe.
Six other DW players were in the score book.
Dayton-Waitsburg and Liberty grappled to essentially a draw in the first quarter with the Pats holding an 11-9 lead after eight minutes.
Then Connelly and crew went to work, outscoring DW 18-7 for a 29-16 lead at the break.
Another huge quarter for Liberty extended the lead to 50-32 after three periods, and the Patriots coasted to the 61-41 win.
"We played them pretty tough," Ramirez said, "but we needed to get out and guard the three-point line."
Liberty Christian 61, Dayton-Waitsburg 41 (1-24)
DW 9 7 16 9-41
LC 11 18 21 11-61
Dayton-Waitsburg (41) Colton VanBlaricom 2, Shawn Evans 3, Josiah White 10, Mason Finney 11, Monte Pettichord 3, Wyatt Costello 7, Dylan Bledsoe 3, Tayven Seney 2. Free throws: 11/21-52%. FG(2)-9/35-26%. FG(3)-4/13-31%.
Liberty Christian (61) Keegan Bishop 23, Aiden Lesser 7, Cody Dunham 15, Michael Connelly 25, Grant McClure 10, David Bogen 1. Free throws: 9/16-56%. FG(2)-11/33-33%. FG(3)-10/25-40%.
Dayton-Waitsburg 43, Pomeroy 40 (1-21)
DW 10 18 11 6-43
Pom 5 3 18 14-40
Dayton-Waitsburg (43) Colton VanBlaricom 14, Mason Finney 13, Monte Pettichord 7, Wyatt Costello 4, Dylan Bledsoe 3, Tayven Seney 2. Free throws: 7/10-70%. FG(2)-13/35-37%. FG(3)-4/13-31%.
Pomeroy (40) Braedon Fruh 3, Trent Gwinn 12, Evan Bartels 7, Trevin Kimble 3, Byron Stallcop 4, Danner Maves 11. Free throws: 7/12-58%. FG(2)-9/36-25%. FG(3): 5/8-63%.
