Box Score GOSHEN, Ind. — Dominique Bolden scored a game-high 22 points, Devin Heath-Granger added a career-high 20 and Trevor Commissaris 17 Thursday night as Goshen edged Grace 92-85 in overtime in a Crossroads League men's basketball tournament quarterfinal at Gunden Gymnasium.
Goshen advanced to the Crossroads League tournament semifinal for the first time since 1999, but like all good tournament games, its opener was in doubt until the final buzzer.
The hosting Maple Leafs scored the game's first seven points and extended their lead as far as 22-9 on a Conner Funkhouser basket with 12:56 left before halftime. Grace scored on its next three possessions to cut its deficit back to six and finished the half on a 35-17 run to lead 44-39 at the intermission.
Much like the first half, the second stanza opened with a run (this time, Grace scored 10 of the first 14 points and later led 59-46 with 14:29 remaining) followed by a comeback. This time, it was Goshen going on a 19-8 spurt to close within 67-65 at the 8:03 mark after Dominique Bolden knocked down three triples in a 133-second span.
With 4:20 left in regulation, Chad Hoffer sank two free throws to put Grace up 76-68, and it appeared Goshen would end its first postseason home game in 11 years with a loss.
Funkhouser, Christian Grider and Dominique Bolden had other ideas. Funkhouser grabbed three rebounds and a steal in the next three minutes, scoring four straight points himself to close the gap to 76-72. Hoffer scored to put Grace up six with 57 seconds left before fouling Grider 13 ticks later.
The sophomore drained one of the two shots. After Grace missed the front end of a one-and-one, Grider knocked down a three with 21.1 seconds left to pull Goshen within 78-76. That's when Bolden stole the inbound pass and drained the game-tying layup.
In the extra session, Goshen scored the first seven points, forcing Grace to an 0-for-4 start from the floor. After Hoffer's free throws with more than four minutes left, Goshen went on a 17-2 run over the next 7:59.
The Lancers would not score until the 1:19 mark on a Stephen Halstead trey, and after a Maple Leaf turnover led to another Halstead bucket, Grace was within 85-83 with 63 seconds showing on the clock.
But Commissaris nabbed the rebound of a Bolden miss in the waning seconds of the shot clock on the ensuing possession. Grider sank both foul shots for an 87-83 lead with 27.6 seconds left, and when Grace missed on its next trip the Lancers were reduced to intentionally fouling. In the last 21 seconds, Goshen was 5-of-6 at the line.
Three of Goshen's starters shot better than 50 percent from the floor: Bolden was 9-for-17, Heath-Granger 7-for-13 and Commissaris 5- for-6. Grider and Commissaris knocked down seven foul shots apiece and Bolden knocked down four 3s. Commissaris pulled down 11 rebounds and Funkhouser 10: Goshen finished with a 39-35 edge on the glass.
Turnovers were another key to the win: Goshen forced the Lancers into 14 giveaways, converting those into 18 points, while losing possession just seven times itself. Grace racked up 24 assists on 32 baskets, led by 10 dimes from Logan Irwin, while Goshen posted 16 assists.
Both teams shot 32-for-67 from the floor. Goshen was 9-of-18 from distance and 19-for-28 at the foul line while Grace managed only 13 attempts.
Three players for each team played 40 or more minutes in the overtime affair. Irwin led all players with 43, while Brandon Vanderhegghen played every second of the second half and racked up 41. Erik Bowen also got to 41. For Goshen, Bolden and Funkhouser led the way with 41 minutes followed by 40 from Heath-Granger.
With the win, Goshen advances to Saturday's Crossroads League tournament semifinals. The fourth-seeded Maple Leafs will travel to Fort Wayne to take on top seed St. Francis, while no. 3 seed Bethel travels to no. 2 seed Indiana Wesleyan. Thanks to the winter storm that postponed all four quarterfinals by a day, all four teams will have less than 42 hours to prepare rather than the scheduled 66. Both semifinals are set to tip off at 3 p.m.
More, including comments from Goshen coach Neal Young, to come when available.