Hersey stuns Washington, falls in semis

Posted December 28, 2007 10:00 pm

By Scott J. Powers Daily Herald Correspondent

PEKIN -- Griffin Dwyer needed to hear "something" from Hersey coach Steve Messer to get him motivated for the final quarter of Thursday's quarterfinal in the Pekin Holiday Tournament.

What those words were weren't anything Dwyer or Messer would repeat, but they were both sure the message had been delivered and received.

A more aggressive Dwyer came out in the fourth quarter and scored 13 of his game-high 21 points to lead the Huskies to a 57-46 upset win over tournament-defending champion Washington in the Pekin quarterfinals.

"I won't say," Messer said. "We communicate in our strange way."

Dwyer gave up a little more.

"He was just saying don't settle for outside shots, take it the basket," he said.

But hopes of taking the championship for Hersey (11-4) ended with a 61-55 overtime loss in the evening semifinal to Peoria Richwoods. The Huskies will play for third place at 5 p.m. today.

Washington (9-1) led 40-34 with 6:38 left when Dwyer began to take over. His 3-pointer with 2:19 left put Hersey in control.

"Coach yells at me for taking those kind of shots," Dwyer said. "If it goes in, he's happy. If it doesn't, he's not. I was just feeling it."

Part of Dwyer's responsibility along with a few other Hersey defenders was to make Washington's Matt Roth, an Indiana recruit and the state's best shooter, wasn't feeling it too much.

Roth came out hot, hitting 2 quick 3s. The second was monumental as it set the IHSA career record at 172. During the next stop in action, Roth was honored at half court and given a game ball.

It would be the highlight for Roth, though. He would hit 3 of his next 16 attempts. He finished with 17 points.

"I love that challenge," Dwyer said. "I love guarding the other team's best player. It's hard and tiring, but it's worth it."

Luke Fabrizius was only 1-for-9 from long-range but did the job inside with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 2 blocks.

"I was just trying to do whatever I could to help the team win," Fabrizius said.

Fabrizius had 26 points on 11-for-15 shooting and 10 rebounds in the semifinal. His 3 put Hersey ahead in overtime but Richwoods answered with an 11-0 run.