Scoreless 4th quarter dooms Coshocton in tourney loss

GNADENHUTTEN – Coshocton seemingly was in control of its Division III tournament opener Wednesday night against Martins Ferry, leading 39-32 heading into the final quarter.

However, then the Purple Riders took control and used a 17-0 fourth quarter to stun the Redskins, 49-39, in a sectional game at Indian Valley High School.

After starting the game 16-of-31 from the floor, the Redskins were 0-of-11 in the final quarter and committed six turnovers.

"We just got blitzed in the fourth quarter," Coshocton coach Tom Hilgenberg said. "We panicked a little when we were missing shots and started to force some things that weren't there against their pressure. You just can't afford to do those things and expect to win any game, let alone a tournament game."

Zac Shelby and Emilio Appolloni each had 16 points to lead Martins Ferry (11-12), which advanced to play Garaway at 1 p.m. Saturday in a D-III sectional final.

Andrew Mason had 10 points, Sam Magness added nine, and Conner Roahrig chipped in eight for Coshocton (13-10).

The Redskins showed no signs of nerves through the first three quarters, going on a 9-2 run to open the game and leading 19-14 after one.

The Purple Riders cut it to 25-24 at halftime, but a 14-8 third quarter from Coshocton gave the Redskins a 39-32 cushion.

But things fell apart from there.

Martins Ferry chipped away at the deficit, taking its first lead of the game on a bucket from Appolloni to make it 40-39 with 3:35 left.

The Purple Riders would add a basket each from Appoloni and Shelby to make it 44-39, and then would go 5-of-6 from the foul line down the stretch to finish things.

Hilgenberg thought his team just couldn't buy a basket in the final quarter.

"We've been so balanced offensively all season and we had some different guys get some great looks, but we just couldn't get anything to fall," he said. "It was very frustrating."

Even with the tough end to the season, Hilgenberg was appreciative of his five seniors — Sam Magness, Jim Magness, Dylan Brown, Damon Miller and Stuart Dunlap — for helping to put the program back on the map.

"Those five seniors really played a big part in helping to turn the program around," Hilgenberg said. "Considering where the program was at last year at this time, I feel like we had a pretty good year."

Hilgenberg is excited for the future and is eager to see how the team improves next season.

"The future looks very bright for us," he said. "We have some great young kids working their way up to varsity from a good reserve team and I feel we are heading in the right direction."

jmickeyjr@gannett.com

Twitter: @TribuneJJMickey