NWF State Holds on Against McLennan, Advances to Elite Eight

By SETH STRINGER

Innumerable ledes emerged from NWF State's 96-91 win over 15th-seeded McLennan in Wednesday's sweet 16.

Jared Wilson-Frame's 20-point first half is one narrative (see story here).

So is Daryl Edwards dropping nine of his 19 points to fuel an 83-61 second half lead. Speaking of that 22-point lead, the Raiders squandered it and trailed 91-90 in the final minute.

But Shadell Millinghaus' 3-pointer from the left wing off a timeout with 44 seconds left – following four straight missed free throws from the Panhandle Player of the Year – proved to be the game-winner.

Yet NWF State's 13th trey didn't seal the win. That honor went to Jeromy Rodriguez's game-sealing layup with nine seconds left.

Perhaps bigger was the defensive stop that allowed the layup, an off-balanced 3 from McLennan that resulted in a long rebound that funneled out to Rodriguez for the 95-91 lead.

That long rebound, of course, captured NWF State's 43-34 advantage on the glass, a narrative they've delivered all season long as the nation's leading rebounder.

So, yeah, there were myriad game-changing efforts to focus on.

Cue Steve DeMeo nodding his head.

"It was a true team effort," said the NWF State head coach. "From being friends with each other off the court to playing well together on the court, this team just exudes chemistry. That's what good college teams do.

"You also have to have multiple weapons. We do."

Multiple weapons headed on to face seventh-seeded Hutchinson, the tournament host, at 6 p.m. tomorrow night in the elite eight.

"They're very big, very talented and they have Steve Eck, one of the best Juco college coaches in the country," DeMeo said of Hutchinson. "On paper they have one of the best players in the country in Bashir Ahmed (20.1 ppg, 8 rpg) – a kid we recruited last year – among many other talented guys.

"I would think they're favored. They'll have 10,000 people there (tonight). Everyone keeps talking about how good we are, but there's no pressure on us. We have nine freshman, so we shouldn't even be here. I think they have five sophomores starting. So we just have to be relaxed, stay focused and play our brand of basketball and prepare for a hostile environment."

Of course NWF State isn't afraid of playing anyone. Eight wins over ranked foes on the season validate that.

Nor, as Wednesday's win affirmed, are they afraid of down-to-the-wire tilts.

In fact, in single-digit games this year the Raiders are 12-4. That includes wins over four tournament teams and a loaded schedule in the not-so-friendly confines of the Panhandle Conference and Region 8.

"I've never seen a team that's played so many close games," DeMeo said. "But the good news is we've been here before. We used to playing in the Panhandle and the state of Florida, so we've played really, really good teams and have faced deficits of 1,2, 5 and 10 points late in the game.

"Anytime we're down, we believe we can win."

That's why, when Shannon Bogues drilled a 3 from the top of the key with 57 seconds left to give the Highlanders a 91-90 lead, the Raiders didn't panic.

DeMeo called a timeout, but he didn't dial up a shot for one of his playmakers. Instead he just reminded them of what they've done all year long.

"They knew what to do," he said. "We run a freelance type of offense. They're so unselfish, so I knew they'd find the open man. It was Shadell that got the opportunity and he knocked it down."

Millinghaus' 3 was followed by a defensive stop where McLennan forced an off-balanced 3 from the top of the key. The long rebound of course found Rodriguez, who sealed the win.

"I tell the guys this over and over and I told them before we took the court tonight: Defense wins games and championships. To win a game you have to make key defensive stops.

"We did that today."

Millinghaus had 21 points, which trailed only Wilson-Frame's 25 points. Meanwhile Edwards had 19 points, six assists and five rebounds, Therence Mayimba poured in 10 points and Rodriguez chipped in eight points and a team-best 11 rebounds.