The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Buzzer-beater keeps Dawgs perfect
By Don Richter, Sports Editor
PUBLISHED: February 15, 2007
The magical season continues for Chelsea's boys' basketball team.
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Last Friday night, the Bulldogs (14-0, 9-0 Southeastern Conference), ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press Class B state poll and No. 7 in the Detroit News' Super 10, pulled out a thrilling 62-61 overtime victory over visiting Ann Arbor Pioneer.
Junior forward Greg Rebudela scored on a short jumper as the buzzer sounded giving Chelsea the exhilarating victory.
"It was a game neither team deserved to lose," said Chelsea coach Robin Raymond. "The biggest compliment I can pay our team is we held our poise. They never had a look in their eye that they were going to lose this game. This team plays with a lot of confidence. There was no nervousness on the bench. They had confidence they were going to get it done."
Pioneer (11-3), whose only losses have come to Chelsea (twice) and to state-ranked Birmingham Detroit Country Day, entered last Friday's game with revenge on their collective minds.
Ann Arbor jumped out to a 13-8 first quarter lead.
"We knew they'd be fired up and ready to play," Raymond said. "We wanted to weather the storm and stay close until their adrenaline high wore off."
At halftime, the Bulldogs fought back to tie the game at 24-24.
"We did a good job of running our offense in the second quarter," Raymond said. "At that point, both teams knew it was going to be a one-possession game. I told the kids at the half it would be a dogfight until the end."
Entering the fourth quarter, Chelsea held a slim 39-38 lead.
"Pioneer is very athletic," Raymond said. "They have kids that have played a lot of basketball. The difference between our two teams is very slim."
In the fourth quarter, the Pioneers outscored the Bulldogs 15-14 forcing overtime.
Chelsea had a chance to win the game in regulation.
After calling a timeout with 10 seconds left, the Bulldogs had an open shot, but senior forward Mike Sauers' jumper rattled in and out of the rim as time expired.
"The kids executed well, the ball just didn't fall," Raymond said. "It was a good shot."
In the four-minute extra session, the Bulldogs opened up a six-point lead.
Ann Arbor, however, refused to quit, battling back to take a 61-60 lead with 20 seconds remaining as Pioneer standout guard J.T. Knight drilled a three-pointer from the top of the key.
After the Bulldogs lost possession, Pioneer had the ball with 11 seconds left on the clock. It appeared Chelsea's unbeaten season would come to a close. After Ann Arbor inbounded the ball, guard Matt Johnson was fouled with nine seconds left. He missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free throw attempt. The miss was rebounded by Sauers.
Chelsea called timeout with 6.8 seconds remaining on the clock.
"We wanted to get the ball in Nate's (Schwarze) hands," Raymond said of the Bulldogs' star point guard. "We still had to go two-thirds of the court (to score)."
Off the timeout, the Bulldogs were able to get the ball into Schwarze's hands. With time winding down, he was double-teamed once he reached the top of the key. Before he could get completely boxed in, however, the 5-foot-11 senior found a wide-open Rebudela on the left baseline near the basket.
"Nate threw a nice pass to Greg," Raymond said. "He (Rebudela) caught it in midair, turned and shot the ball as the buzzer sounded."
The ball swished through the net giving Chelsea the win and preserving its perfect season.
Schwarze led the Bulldogs with 25 points, including five three-pointers, six rebounds, five steals and seven assists.
Senior guard Adam Connell added 11 points and five steals, while senior forward Micah Hudson (6-2) and Rebudela each had 10 points and five boards.
Sauers finished with six points, six rebounds, three steals and three assists for Chelsea.
The Bulldogs ended up 23-of-52 from the field for 44 percent. Pioneer was 25-of-48 for 52 percent.
At the foul line, Chelsea was 10-of-17 for 59 percent. Ann Arbor was 5-of-8 for 63 percent.
Pioneer out-rebounded the Bulldogs 28-25.
Chelsea forced 21 turnovers and had 17 steals. The Bulldogs had 15 turnovers.
On Feb. 6, the visiting Bulldogs defeated Saline 53-41.
"Any game on the road is hard," Raymond said. "Saline is always tough. We're excited with the win.
"Defensively I thought we played well. Our goal is always to hold a team under 50 points. We played well, but not great."
Chelsea led 11-9 after one quarter.
At the break, the Bulldogs opened up a 26-16 advantage.
Heading into the fourth quarter, Chelsea continued leading 41-32.
In the fourth frame, the Bulldogs outscored the Hornets 12-9 for the night's final margin.
Schwarze paced Chelsea with 22 points, seven assists and five steals.
Hudson added a double-double of 18 points and 12 boards, while Connell had six points and Sauers five points for the Dawgs.
Junior guard Elliot Marshall had two points for Chelsea.
The Bulldogs finished 19-of-41 from the field for 46 percent. Saline was 13-of-37 from the floor for 35 percent.
At the line, Chelsea was 10-of-17 for 59 percent, while the Hornets were 8-of-11 for 73 percent.
Saline out-rebounded the Bulldogs 22-21.
Chelsea forced 19 turnovers and had 13 steals. The Bulldogs turned the ball over 11 times.
Chelsea next hosts Ann Arbor Huron Thursday at 7 p.m.
On Tuesday, the Bulldogs travel to Temperance Bedford for a game at 7 p.m.
On Feb. 23, Chelsea visits Tecumseh for a match up at 7 p.m.
JV Basketball
Chelsea's JV boys' basketball team lost to host Saline 45-35 Feb. 6.
Mike Roberts led the Bulldogs (6-7) with 16 points. Jake Mantel added 15 points.
On Feb. 2, host Chelsea defeated rival Dexter 57-53.
Chris Morgan paced the Bulldogs with 17 points.
Roberts and Mantel each netted 16 points for Chelsea.
On Jan. 30, the visiting Bulldogs topped Ypsilanti Lincoln 50-46.
Morgan led the way with 14 points.
Roberts added 12 points, while Mantel had seven points for Chelsea.
"We have been playing well the last four games," said Chelsea coach Mark Scheese. "Brett Everding, Mike Lenneman, Tyler Fischhaber and Alex Keely have been contributing a lot to the success we have been having."
The Bulldogs next host Ann Arbor Huron Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, Chelsea travels to Temperance Bedford for a game at 5:30 p.m.
On Feb. 23, the Bulldogs visit Tecumseh for a contest at 5:30 p.m.
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