By Adam Rouse
Staff Writer
FORTVILLE â??? Senior Danny Collier saved his best for last Dec. 30 as the New Palestine senior drained a 14-footer with 1.8 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime, then hit the game-winning free throws with 4.3 seconds remaining to give the Dragons a 59-57 victory over Greenfield to win the Hancock County Tournament.
The Dragons (4-2) needed Collier’s heroics after watching the Cougars (2-5) erase a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit and take a 55-53 lead with just 21.8 showing on the clock.
New Palestine led 43-29 after three quarters and pushed it to 44-29 nine seconds into the fourth for its biggest advantage of the contest.
Both teams were in the double bonus at the 5:48 mark in the final quarter, and boy, were there plenty of free throws go around. After combining for only 11 in the first half, the Cougars and Dragons shot 42 free throws after halftime.
Sophomore Ben Zirkle put together a 5-0 run of his own for Greenfield to cut the deficit to 46-42 with 5:30 showing on the clock.
A few minutes later Zirkle brought the Cougars within a basket at 49-47 on another jumper but this time New Pal had an answer when senior Cory Alter nailed a 3-pointer to give the Dragons a 52-47 lead with 3:38 to go.
Greenfield received a lucky break 35 seconds later as the officials could not determine who the ball went out of bounds on and called a jump ball, which gave possession to the Cougars.
Not passing up a golden opportunity, Greenfield took advantage. Senior Lucas Autry responded with a basket to cut it to 52-49 and then hit three free throws over the next minute to tie the game at 52 with 2:09 to go.
Junior Brian Melser hit one of two from the line to temporarily give New Pal the lead at 53-52 but Zirkle came back for the Cougars with a jumper to give Greenfield its first lead since the first quarter at 54-53 with 1:15 left in the game.
The score stayed that way until Autry went back to the line with 21.8 seconds remaining. Autry, who was 8 of 9 from the line in the second half to this point, hit the first but missed the second to give Greenfield a 55-53 advantage.
New Pal called a time out to set up the final play after getting the ball past half court. Collierâ??s name was called and the senior stepped up to the challenge as he hit a leaner just inside the 3-point line to tie the game with 1.8 seconds to go. Greenfield was not able to match the miracle and the game went to overtime.
Points were at a premium in the four-minute OT as Zirkleâ??s jumper tied the game at 57 with 1:43 to go.
Greenfield tried to hold the ball for a final shot but threw it away with 41.2 seconds on the clock.
Once again it was Collier who stepped up for the Dragons.
The 6â??4â? forward drove hard to the basket and was fouled with 4.3 seconds left and Collier nailed both free throws to give New Palestine a 59-57 lead.
For the Cougars, it was all up to Zirkle after 60 percent of the Greenfield starting lineup had fouled out during overtime. Zirkle took the ball the entire length of the floor, but his layup rolled around the rim and fell off to give the Dragons the Hancock County championship.
Collier led New Pal with 16 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field and 8 of 11 from the line. He was joined in double figures by Alter and sophomore Nathan Fraley, who both had 13 points.
Zirkle and Autry each had 19 points apiece for the Cougars. Autry made his living from the charity stripe as he hit 12 of 14 free throws.
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