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Sheldon's postseason run ends
By Jason Peake
Daily Mail Sports Editor
WILLARD -- "We put Sheldon basketball on the map."
That's how Tyler Judd summed it up moments after his Sheldon High School boys basketball team saw its stellar season come to an end.
Propelled by a quick start, Thomas Jefferson Independent School of Joplin held off Sheldon late for a 45-34 victory in the championship game of the MSHSAA Class 1, District 5 Tournament on Saturday night at Willard High School.
With the loss, a nice postseason run ended for Judd's Panthers. Sheldon finished the 2011-12 season with a record of 21-7 and had won 11-straight games before falling to the top-seeded Cavaliers.
Coach Judd said his team had a great season.
"21 wins and second in the district is nothing to hang our heads over," Judd said. "Obviously we wanted to win. It's sad to see it come to an end."
The season ended for Sheldon because Thomas Jefferson proved it's definitely not a one-man show.
The Cavaliers feature Division I prospect Alex Oserowsky, a 6-3 senior guard/forward. But his teammates can play, too.
Thomas Jefferson got off to a solid start by shooting well from the field and forcing Sheldon into four early turnovers.
The Cavaliers led 14-4 after back-to-back three-pointers from junior Tyler Thurman. Thomas Jefferson took a 16-6 lead into the second quarter. Oserowsky had a breakaway dunk and a three-pointer in the first quarter.
But Oserowsky injured his ankle in the second quarter and did not play the entire second half, finishing with just five points. He scored 37 in the semifinals.
"We got a really good break with Oserowsky going out," Judd said. "It was unfortunate for him because he's an awesome player. But we had game-planned to stop him. It kind of threw us for a loop when he went out. They became a different team."
Sheldon's Cody Seibert scored two hoops in the second quarter to spark the Panthers, but the Cavaliers led 25-14 at halftime.
After intermission, and without Oserowsky, Thomas Jefferson Coach Theo Elbert switched from a man-to-man to a zone defense. Sheldon struggled to get going offensively in the third quarter against the zone.
"We weren't ready for that," Judd said of the zone. "It threw us a curveball."
The Panthers got two hoops from senior guard Tra Hart and a hoop and a free throw from classmate Eric Leavell. But the Panthers trailed 34-25 entering the fourth quarter.
Thomas Jefferson's 6-9 junior center Justin Brown began to assert himself in the second half. Brown dominated inside, scoring a game-high 18 points. Brown also blocked 10 shots and altered many of Sheldon's attempts in the lane.
"There's no way for us to prepare for a 6-9 kid," Judd said. "He played a good game. We could not keep him from impacting the game on both ends. He was a force offensively and defensively. We just didn't have any answer for him."
Brown scored eight in the fourth quarter, as the Cavaliers pulled away.
Sheldon's Leavell scored five quick points, and Hart added four of his own, but the Panthers were still down 42-34 with 2:30 to play.
Patient in the half-court, TJ began to run clock. On the other end, Sheldon had a few misses from the perimeter and had to start fouling. The Cavaliers hit four of seven free throws late for the final margin.
Judd gave credit to Thomas Jefferson after the game, noting the Cavs earned the win without their best player available after the break.
"Their other kids stepped up," Judd said. "I give them all the credit."
Sheldon never really got into a flow offensively vs. TJ's half-court defense.
"They played really tough defense and they're incredibly well-coached," Judd said. "They're disciplined. We didn't get anything easy offensively. We had to work really hard for everything we got."
After being down double figures right away, the Panthers were just a few missed jumpers away from making a run the entire night.
Judd noted the shots just didn't fall from the perimeter.
"We knew coming in that we were going to have to hit outside shots," Judd said. "The big kid clogs up the middle. And we just didn't hit enough outside shots."
Third-seeded Sheldon made just two three-pointers in the game, while the Cavaliers drained six.
Hart led Sheldon with 10 points, while Leavell and sophomore forward Corey Baney added eight points apiece for the Panthers.
Sheldon is losing five seniors -- Hart, Leavell, Seibert, Dustin Rhoades, and Nic Coquillette.
"It's going to be tough to replace them," Judd said. "They're leaving big shoes to fill."
After his team posed for photos with the district runner-up plaque, Judd said he wasn't ready for the season to end. His team won 21 games, the annual GVVC Conference Tournament, and had an 11-game winning streak.
"These kids ran through a brick wall for me all year," Judd said. "But hopefully this loss makes our younger kids hungry to get back here and finish better."
After thinking about his team's successful season, Judd had one last thought.
"We put Sheldon basketball on the map."
Notes: Thomas Jefferson (18-7) advances to the sectional round, where they'll take on Climax Springs tonight at 7:45 p.m. at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar.
In the girls district title game, Walnut Grove beat Dadeville 54-45. Walnut Grove takes on Weaubleau at six tonight.
District 5 boys title game
Thomas Jefferson Ind. 45, Sheldon 34
SH 6 8 11 9 -- 34
TJ 16 9 9 11 -- 45
Sheldon: Eric Leavell 3 1-2 8, Cody Siebert 2 0-0 4, Reed Worsley 1 0-0 2, Taylor Belew 0 0-0 0, Corey Baney 4 0-3 8, Dustin Rhoades 1 0-0 2, Tra Hart 4 1-2 10. Totals 13 (2) 2-7 34. Three-pointers: Hart 1, Leavell 1.
Thomas Jefferson: Ivan Crossland 1 1-2 4, Jonathan Shumaker 2 1-3 7, Alex Oserowsky 2 0-0 5, Tyler Thurman 2 0-0 6, Jake Hockman 2 1-2 5, Xavier Welch 0 0-0 0, Justin Brown 8 2-2 18. Totals 11 (6) 5-9 45. Three-pointers: Shumaker 2, Thurman 2, Oserowsky 1, Crossland 1.
CLASS 1, DISTRICT 5
BOYS BRACKET
Tuesday's scores
T. Jefferson 69, Bronaugh 39
Everton 69, Dadeville 60
Walnut Grove 49, Gold. City 40
Sheldon 47, Lockwood 35
Friday's semifinals
T. Jefferson 72, Everton 36
Sheldon 58, Walnut Grove 41
Saturday's title game
Thomas Jefferson Independent School 45, Sheldon 34