Johnnies fall short against Taft

KETTERING - Cincinnati Taft didn't get the track meet it wanted, but the Senators' pressure defense still wore Johnstown down just enough Thursday.

The Johnnies didn't have a field goal during the last 4:16 of the game. However, Taft had to make eight consecutive free throws over the final 1:10 before finally putting away Johnstown 43-33 in a Division II regional semifinal at Kettering Fairmont.

Johnstown (23-4) got the tempo to its liking, but made only one 3-pointer and hit just 33 percent overall. But the Senators (22-5) advanced to Saturday's regional final against the Kettering Alter-Cincinnati Aiken winner despite making only 13 of 46 from the floor for 28 percent.

"Our game plan from the start was to wear them down," Taft coach Demarco Bradley said. "We use 10 players, they use six or seven. But we knew Jason Carter was a great player, on both sides of the floor. And they're a great team. We have our tempo and they have theirs, with those two monsters inside. It was an even matchup."

Carter struggled a bit in his final game for the Johnnies, scoring 11 points and missing five foul shots. But he also had seven rebounds, six blocks, five assists and three steals. Junior post Kyle Matoszkia scored 15 points with eight rebounds and three assists as Johnstown stayed in it.

"We knew what we were up against. They come at you for 32 minutes," coach Kevin Martin said. "We handled their pressure for the most part, didn't turn it over much in spots where they could get out in transition. But we couldn't really get into our offense, to the point where we could get the ball where we were comfortable. You have to make jump shots and free throws. If we could have just made some 3-pointers ..."

"That was the other thing. They're really good when they hit perimeter shots, and we could not let them make them," Bradley said.

The Johnnies were just 1 of 12 on 3s.

The Senators led 22-19 at halftime, on a 3-pointer by coach's son Demarco Bradley, despite making just 5 of 19 from the field in the second quarter. Taft opened a 29-21 lead midway through the third quarter, but the Johnnies wouldn't quit.

Carter found Matoszkia inside for a 3-point play, and Andrew Sayer delivered another assist to him late in the quarter as Johnstown trailed just 32-28. When Carter hit Matoszkia for another layup with 4:16 to play, it was 34-31. But it was the Johnnies' last field goal.

Johnstown missed the front end of two one-and-ones in the fourth, while Frank Royles and Maleek Green each hit four foul shots for the winners. The Johnnies held Royles, averaging 20 points per game, to no field goals and four points. Green led Taft with 12 points and seven rebounds, as the Senators controlled the rebounding 27-20, many on the offensive end. Antwan Johnson added 10 points, six rebounds and an impressive dunk off a steal.

Martin admitted Carter didn't have his greatest game.

"It happens," he said. "He missed some shots we're not used to seeing him miss. But we were still right there with a minute and a half left. It was a little different tonight for Jason and Kyle, going up against guys with size and length in there. They hurt us on some offensive rebounds."

Carter said the Johnnies got a little frustrated.

"We were a little tired, but the main thing was, our shots weren't falling," he said. "We weren't making free throws or finishing layups. So we got a little down. It was tough, but we always battle to the end, no matter what."

dweidig@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8557

Twitter: @noz75

Stat book

Johnstown 13-6-9-5 — 33

Cincinnati Taft 9-13-10-11 — 43

Johnstown: 12-36 FG, 8-13 FT, 1 3 pt. (Taylor), 20 rebounds (Matoszkia 8, Carter 7), 13 turnovers, 12 Assists (Carter 5, Matoszkia 3), 5 Steals (Carter 3). Scoring: Taylor 1 0-0 3, Sayer 1 0-0 2, Maynard 0 2-2 2, Carter 4 3-8 11, Matoszkia 6 3-3 15.

Cincinnati Taft: 13-46 FG, 14-19 FT,  3 3 pt. (Bradley 2, Green), 27 rebounds (Green 7, Johnson 6), 9 turnovers, 3 Assists (Stringer 2), 10 Steals (Johnson 3). Scoring: Jackson 0 1-2 1, Bradley 2 0-1 6, Green 2 7-8 12, Royles 0 4-4 4, Johnson 5 0-0 10, Lawrence 1 0-0 2, Stringer 3 2-4 8.