The Commercial-News, Danville, IL

Sports

Facebook

November 21, 2012

Bearcats lose in Classic

BY CHAD DARE Commercial-News

HOOPESTON — Despite the result, Milford basketball coach John Spezia saw what he wanted to see on Tuesday night.

In a second-round game at the Cornjerker Classic at Hoopeston Area High School, the Bearcats committed two turnovers and missed three shots in the final minute as they dropped to 0-2 with a 53-51 loss to the LeRoy Panthers.

“This was 100 percent improvement,’’ said Spezia in comparison to Milford’s loss to Iroquois West on Monday night. “We had opportunities to win this game, but a one-handed pass led to a turnover. And LeRoy capitalized on it.’’

Nick Aupperle of the Panthers drained his third 3-pointer of the contest with 41.3 seconds left, giving LeRoy a 52-51 lead. Aupperle led the Panthers with 16 points.

Milford (0-2) committed its second turnover in the final minute on the ensuing possession, but the Bearcats got a final chance when LeRoy’s Cole Pilura, who had 13 points, made just 1-of-2 free throws with 11.3 seconds left.

Wyatt Alt and Jeff Cann each got shots in the final 10 seconds and Cann drew a foul, giving the junior an opportunity to tie the game at the free-throw line with 00.7 seconds on the clock. Cann missed the front end of the one-and-one and a tip attempt from Jacob Rogers was just off the mark.

“We were getting shots and we did a better job of running the offense,’’ Spezia said.

Alt had a game-high 20 points for the Bearcats, while Rogers had 16 and Cann finished with 12.

“We’re still playing without a couple of key contributors and good outside shooters,’’ said Spezia, as Josh Killion and Alex Portwood are out with injuries. Spezia said neither player will be back this week, but he is hopeful to have them before the start of the Vermilion Valley Conference season.

The difference in the game came at the 3-point line where LeRoy made 10 shots behind to the arc to just one for Milford from Jordan Gullquist.

In the third-round of the Cornjerker Classic on Friday, Milford will play Donovan in a 3:30 p.m. game, while LeRoy takes on Hoopeston Area in a 7:30 p.m. contest.

Text Only
Sports
E-edition
AP Video
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones 9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
NDN Video
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage Trout's cycle a boost for Angels Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery Shakira's Shocking Talent Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill DWTS Crowns a Winner Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
Must Read