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THE YEAR

"This is a pretty hard group to read because they're such a loose bunch, but if they are nervous at all for the tournament, they aren't letting it show."
-- Coach Watton

"This is a new experience for all of us and it's really a no lose situation. We're very happy for the opportunity to be here and we believe we can win the game." -- Fairbury Coach Phil Seevers

"I knew they would be well prepared and well coached and they showed it."
-- Coach Watton

SHOCKER

dark horse .... anyone

anyone

Wahoo seemed to be in the right frame of mind entering the first round of the 1995 Class C1 state tournament.  As far as underestimating what appeared to be a weak opponent, Coach Watton commented, "I'm not too concerned about us overlooking anyone.  We have several kids who are new to the lineup and I'm sure they're going to want to perform well their first game out."  Eric Eddie agreed:  "I don't think there's any overconfidence on the team.  You never know what can happen at a state tournament.  Anyone can come out and beat you."  The Fairbury Jeffs were about to come out and show the Warriors they were that "anyone."

If Wahoo had any illusion about playing a short-handed Fairbury team, that was eliminated right away as the Jeffs standout sophomore, Jeff Beerbohm, who had sat out the district tournament with a broken hand, was in the starting lineup.  He would be a major factor for Fairbury, grabbing 14 rebounds and scoring 12 points.  Fairbury coach, Phil Seevers explained, "We were very tentative before the game if we would play him.  We thought we would play him early and see how he did."  With Beerbohm in the lineup, the Jeffs showed early they would not be an easy first round victim for the Warriors.  Although Wahoo managed to build a 14 – 9 lead in the first quarter, the Jeffs narrowed the lead to three at the end of the period.  Wahoo was still in its comfort zone at half as Mike Simons connected on back-to-back three's to give Wahoo a 29-24 lead.  Early in the third period Eric Eddie connected on two three pointers and Josh Anderson scored to give Wahoo a seven point lead.  But the Jeff's responded and battled back to tie the game at the end of the third period.  The lead see-sawed back and forth in the final period with neither team taking more than a two point lead.

As the game entered its last minute, Josh Anderson connected on a three-pointer and Wahoo took a four point lead, 59 – 55.  But an instant later, that lead was cut to one as Fairbury broke Wahoo's press and Mitch Ebke rattled in a three to cut the lead back to one.  On Wahoo's next possession, Anderson found himself open again, but this time his three pointer failed to find the mark.  Beerbohm grabbed the rebound and Fairbury called timeout with 49 seconds remaining.  On the ensuing possession, Anderson was called for a foul and Fairbury's Ryan Hadden calmly converted two freethrows to give Fairbury a one point lead.  Wahoo called timeout with 16 seconds remaining.  On the final possession, Wahoo's intent was to get the ball to Mike Simons but Fairbury employed a diamond-and-one defense that successfully kept the ball away from Simons.  Anderson appeared to be open for a shot, but passed the ball out to Eddie who launched a three-pointer at the buzzer.  Coach Watton described the last play:  "We drew up a play for either Mike, Josh, or Eric to take the shot.  It was an open shot.  We didn't need the three, but that's a shot Eric has made before."  In the same gym three months earlier the Warriors had won on a buzzer beater.  But this time the shot came up short and Wahoo's season ended.

The focus of the Wahoo loss would always be on that last play.  But in truth, the Jeffs earned their win by outrebounding the Warriors and forcing Wahoo into numerous uncharacteristic turnovers.  The Jeffs had a 36 – 21 advantage on the boards and forced Wahoo into 15 second half turnovers.  Coach Watton commented, "We're used to only having six or seven turnovers in a game.  We forced passes that weren't there."  The Jeffs had been a good defensive team all year, holding opponents to 56 points per game.  The Warriors were generally considered an offensive juggernaut, averaging 82 coming into the game.  The Jeffs played some zone and some box-and-one, always focusing on Wahoo's leading scorer, Jeff Simons.  Coach Seevers stated, "Let's just say we made sure we knew where he was at all times."  Simons made 9 of 14 shots and led the Warriors with 25 points, but the 14 attempts was a season low for him.

To say the least, the Wahoo team, coaches, and fans were disappointed in the loss.  Most had anticipated at least a return to the championship game.  Instead, a very young team that had completed an undefeated season and won a district title finished with a one in the loss column.  Eric Eddie's words were prophetic – "anyone" can beat you.

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Wahoo 16 14 16 13 59
Fairbury 13 11 19 17

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