Coffey comes through for Batavia

At 63.7 percent on the season, shooting free throws is one thing that hasn't always gone Batavia's way.

Luckily for the Bulldogs they got the right guy to the line when they needed it the most Friday.

Junior guard Jesse Coffey, a 95.6 percent free-throw shooter, calmly hit nothing but net on a pair of free throws with 7.9 seconds remaining of a tied game at Kaneland.

The Knights had one last chance, but Ryley Bailey's 25-footer rimmed out at the buzzer giving Batavia a 42-40 victory on a night that scoring points turned into a chore for both teams.

Neither team led by more than 5 points. There were 8 lead changes and 6 ties.

"Very typical of what we expected," Batavia coach Jim Roberts said. "(Kaneland coach) Brian Johnson has these guys playing with a great deal of pride and purpose. They caused us fits tonight and I'm sure they'll cause a lot of people fits throughout the course of the season."

Coffey, whose last game-winner came when he was a freshman playing in a sophomore game against Geneva, drove and drew the foul on a pull-up 15-foot jumper.

After getting this advice from his teammates - "A couple of my guys said hit this one, it's a big one" - Coffey did just that, using the stroke that now has him 24 of 25 at the line this season.

"We practice free throws every day, it's just getting into a routine and shutting out the crowd," Coffey said. "You can't really simulate it (pressure free throws), you just have to concentrate and put all your mind in the shot and forget about the crowd."

"Jesse was clutch," teammate Ricky Clopton said. "He's a real good shooter, he's focused all the time. I don't think I've seen a facial expression. He's all focus."

Batavia (10-4, 4-2) became the latest team to hand Kaneland (9-3, 3-2) a heartbreaking loss. The Knights' three defeats have been in overtime to Hampshire, by 4 points to DeKalb and now 2 to Batavia.

Bailey, who drew the toughest defensive assignment giving up 6 inches while shadowing Clopton, nearly became the hero with his last-second 3.

"I thought it looked good," Bailey said. "I was excited, I was about ready to run around all happy and then it rimmed out."

Batavia's full-court press on Kaneland's final possession took the Knights out of what they wanted to run. They weren't able to get the ball in the hands of star Dave Dudzinski, who scored 16 of his game-high 20 points in the second half.

"I take the blame for that, I drew something up thinking they (Batavia) were going to do something else," Johnson said. "I think I confused the kids a little. I would have preferred something going to the bucket but it just didn't work out that way."

The thrilling finish contrasted a low-scoring first half that ended with Batavia ahead 17-14. Neither team could get in a flow, with Batavia shooting 33 percent from the field and the Knights struggling with 6 turnovers in the second quarter.

The pace picked up in the second half. Adam LeTourneau gave Batavia a lift with 11 points, including a pair to start the fourth quarter when he hustled after his own missed 3-pointer to tip it in.

That basket gave Batavia a 33-30 lead on the first possession of the fourth quarter. There were 3 ties and 3 lead changes in the final eight minutes.

Both sides took turns hitting key shots. LeTourneau 3-pointer put Batavia ahead 36-34, Donavan Williams' only basket of the game tied the score at 38, Dudzinski rebounded a missed free throw to score inside and give Kaneland its last lead of the night, 40-38 with 1:56 remaining.

The teams were just as clutch on the defensive end. After Clopton swished two free throws to make it 40-40, Batavia forced a 10-second violation.

Dudzinski answered by blocking Clopton's shot, giving the Knights a chance to hold for the last shot. But Batavia's pressure again forced a turnover, with LeTourneau's third steal of the game setting up Coffey's game-winning free throws.

"Our ball press bothered them a lot," Clopton said. "We have long arms, a lot of us do. Adam came up with a huge steal."

Clopton led Batavia with 15 points. Coffey added 9 points and Levi Maxey 6 rebounds.

Dudzinski finished with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. Steve Colombe was next for the hard-luck Knights with 9 points and 6 rebounds.

"We were in the game to the end," Bailey said. "We have to learn how to win close games down the stretch because right now that's what's hurting us. We're in all these games, we know we can play with anyone. If we can execute better I think we'll come out with wins."