Zion-Benton foils Bartlett's plan

Sometimes the best laid plans of coaches just don't work.

Unfortunately, that was the case for Bartlett boys basketball coach Jim Wolfsmith at Saturday's Jacobs Holiday Basketball Tournament.

Here's the scenario.

With Zion-Benton leading 53-50, Wolfsmith called a timeout with 4.7 seconds left in the game. The ball was thrown at midcourt to Lorenzo Mitchell, but Zee-Bees center Milik Yarbrough stole the pass and was fouled on the play.

Yarbrough calmly sank both free throws as Z-B held on to a 55-50 victory over the Hawks.

Wolfsmith explained his strategy after the game.

"We had two options on the play," said the Bartlett coach. "We wanted to get Lorenzo the ball at midcourt and he had the option of calling a timeout or getting the ball to Matt (Chaltin) for a 3-pointer. Their big kids did a great job on the play. "

Poor shooting proved to be the downfall for the Hawks (5-4). Bartlett made only 18-of-60 shots from the field for 30 percent, but connected on 10-of-25 from 3-point range for 40 percent.

"When you are chasing 2, 3, 4 and 5 points in the fourth quarter you can't settle for 3-pointers and jump shots and we did," said Wolfsmith. "When you are up and the shots are falling it is all right to fall in love with the 3-pointer. I would have liked to have seen us take the ball to the basket and get fouled and stop the clock. We weren't aggressive enough taking the ball to the basket."

Chaltin, who connected on five 3-pointers, led Bartlett with 21 points while Jonathan Leigeber scored 10.

Yarbrough led Zion-Benton with 20 points, 14 in the second half. He also snared 12 rebounds. Curtis Cook added 12 points with 8 boards for the winners.

"Our big kids really played well and really rebounded well," said Zion-Benton coach Don Kloth. "We played much better defense in the second half and guarded their 3-point shooters better in the second half. We beat a very good Bartlett team tonight."

Zion-Benton (2-5) seemingly seized control of the game after a 3-pointer by Dorsey Cadette that gave the Zee-Bees a 9-point lead 53-44 with 2:45 remaining. It was Cadette's only points of the game.

But the Hawks didn't give up and reeled off 6 straight points which included a layup by John Moss with 1:11 left to pull the Hawks within 3, 53-50. Bartlett couldn't get any closer.