NORWALK — For David Sheldon, a 53-51 win over Western Reserve was bittersweet.
The win came at the expense of his brother, Roughriders’ head coach Chris Sheldon.
“We’re moving on but it’s bittersweet for me,” Sheldon said. “He’s the best, he’s my best friend and I love these guys right here. I love those Western kids; I grew up with them.
“Chris is a heck of a coach,” Sheldon added. “Last June, he came down to our gym for an hour, and we put an offense in that he ran. And that’s what we’ve run all year.”
The loss is tougher for Chris Sheldon. Western dominated the game most of the night and held a 17-point lead, 43-26, with 6:44 left in the game on a Chris Buchanan 3-point shot.
At that point, the Eagles looked dead.
Crawford, however, came storming back and got a Carson Feichtner layup with 16 seconds left for the win in the final of the Division III district at Norwalk High School. With the win, the Eagles (25-0) advance to the regional tournament at Bowling Green State University. Crawford will face Canal Winchester Harvest Prep on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
The loss, however, was devastating for Chris Sheldon.
“My brother is a hell of a coach,” Sheldon said. “He does a great job. I’m not happy for him right now but I’ll be happy for him come Wednesday.
“It almost feels the older brother duked his little brother from the standpoint of, there were a lot of times growing up I always felt like he would let me win or feel like I’m about to win and he beats you and rips your heart out and sends you back to the house crying,” Sheldon said.
Sheldon added that no one will support the Eagles more than him.
“Thankfully, I’m 43,” Sheldon said. “And I know it’s just a game now. It’s a game that has been great for our family. Something that we invest heavily in the amount of time but it’s still a game. If I had to get beat by anybody it would be only him.
“This is going to sting for a couple of days, but I’ll be the biggest Eagles supporter come Wednesday night.”
The disappointment is certainly evident. The Roughriders dominated the game for three quarters. Crawford stars Mason Studer and Carter Valentine combined for just two points over the three frames as the Roughriders held a 25-15 lead at the half, and a 40-24 lead entering the final frame.
“I thought we kicked their butt all night,” Chris Sheldon said. “We dominated the game for 25 minutes and even with a minute-50 left, I think we were still up eight. They bury a 3 and on the ensuing possession we turned the ball over and, just like that, in a matter of three possessions, it went from an 8-point lead to a one-possession ballgame. We didn’t finish. We missed a couple of free throws, had a couple of costly turnovers. When you’re playing for a district title, you can’t have live-ball turnovers that lead to scores that late in the game.”
The Eagles finally came to life in the fourth period, as Studer scored nine points and Valentine added seven.
Still, the Roughriders (22-2) held a 51-42 lead with 1:41 left on a free throw from Jacob Jarrett.
The Eagles went to their press, and it paid dividends.
Valentine drained a 3 before Studer knocked down a free throw. After Valentine scored, the Roughriders still held a 51-48 lead with 59.9 seconds left in the game.
“We had to press and then we went to some 1-2-2 and we were able to get some turnovers and finally make some shots,” David Sheldon said. “That’s a credit to Western, they played great defense all night.”
Crawford got a big turnover four seconds later and Studer hit two free throws with 51 seconds left cutting the lead to one, then Valentine stole a Western Reserve pass in the lane with 45 seconds left.
Crawford came down the court quickly and got a bounce pass under the basket to a wide-open Feichtner for a layup, giving the Eagles the lead 52-51 with 19 seconds left.
The Roughriders turned the ball over again, and a subsequent foul put Crawford’s Braxton Baker on the line. He hit one free throw, and the Eagles led, 53-51, with 3.4 seconds left. The Roughriders missed a long shot and the game ended.
“We still have a chance with 19 seconds to go, the play is set up perfect to a tee, and we turn it over on the pass,” Chris Sheldon said. “Two of our best players go down with knee injuries. It’s almost like it wasn’t in the cards.”
Baker led the Eagles with 12 points and Studer added 11, but Crawford’s role players kept the team in the game. Nolan McKibben and Feichtner scored eight and Derek Horsley added seven.
“Normally McKibben plays well and so did Feichtner again,” David Sheldon said. “We knew they were going to take away Valentine and Studer, take away our best players.”
“We guard,” Chris Sheldon said. “I thought our defensive effort was just outstanding. Unfortunately, we broke down on that one possession late and it cost us. But there were multiple plays to be had on those final two minutes and it spiraled and backfired on us.
“(Crawford) is a great team,” Chris Sheldon added. “Their role players hit some big shots for them and that’s what we wanted to shoot the basketball against us. Going into tonight, if you tell me it’s a one-possession game with us having a chance to tie or take the lead two possessions in a row with under a minute to go, it’s all you can ask for.”
Jude Muenz paced the Roughriders with 19 points, but they also got outstanding efforts from role players. Buchanan and Jarrett each added seven points.
“Jude Muenz was unbelievable,” David Sheldon said. “He put them on his back. I love that kid. He and Mason Studer are the two best point guards around. He put them on his back for three quarters.
“We just talked about not panicking, one possession at a time, our way.”
Box score
Western Reserve 15 10 15 11 — 51
Colonel Crawford 13 2 9 29 — 53
Western Reserve (22-2): Shots 17-30; 3-pt. shots 9 (Jude Muenz 4, Jacob Jarrett 2, Camden Hankins, Aiden Edwards, Chris Buchanan); Free throws 9-12; Rebounds 15; Turnovers 6. Scoring: Camden Hankins 1 3 6, Aiden Edwards 2 0 5, Jacob Jarrett 2 3 9, Jude Muenz 7 1 19, Chris Buchanan 3 0 7, Carson Roe 2 1 5.
Colonel Crawford (25-0): Shots 17-43; 3-pt shots 10 (Braxton Baker 3, Nolan McKibben 2, Mason Studer 2, Derek Horsley 2, Carter Valentine); Free throws 9-16; Rebounds 18; Turnovers 8. Scoring: Mason Studer 3 3 11, Derek Horsley 2 1 7, Nolan McKibben 2 2 8, Braxton Baker 4 1 12, Carter Valentine 3 0 7, Carson Feichtner 3 2 8.