By Skip Weaver
Contributing writer
The Fenwick Falcons were in search of a third consecutive win against Dayton Stivers Friday night at the University of Dayton Arena.
They didn’t get it.
Fenwick led much of the first half but could not maintain the lead in the second half as the Tigers forged ahead and held on for a 56-50 victory in the Division III boys’ sectional finals.
“We didn’t defend well and they just played better than we did,” Fenwick coach Pat Kreke said after his top-seeded squad’s season ended with a 20-5 record.
Fenwick had beaten Stivers the last two times the teams met, but those wins came during the 2011 and 2012 regular seasons. The last time the two met in the postseason in 2009, the Tigers were victorious.
“We’re at a point that is not normal for Stivers,” Coach Jay Hall said of the fourth-seeded Tigers who advance to face Versailles in the district tournament. “We’re working on being better together and being disciplined. These guys want to win and they believe they can win. It’s not been like that here before.”
Junior Robert Caldwell made a believer out of most of the fans in attendance as he led all scorers with 29 points. He made just about every shot he put in the air including several as he was off balance and falling to the floor.
“He’s focused and he attacks the basket,” Hall said of Caldwell. “He’s becoming a leader instead of just a player.”
Senior Leo Haenni caught fire in the fourth quarter keeping his Falcons within striking distance. Fenwick tied the game twice down the stretch at 44-all and 46-all, but could never quite get over the hump as Stivers (17-8) outscored Fenwick 10-4 the rest of the way.
Stivers applied a full-court press for much of the contest, but Kreke said he didn’t believe it was the difference in the game.
“We didn’t shoot well,” Kreke said. “And when you don’t put the ball in the basket, this is the outcome. They got a couple buckets off the pressure, but it was not a determining factor.”
Junior Frank Catrine tied Haenni for the team lead with 13 points. Freshman Rodrick Caldwell added 11 for the Tigers.
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