Platteview boys finally get over Blair hump

Varsity boys basketball v. Blair

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Report by: Frank Staskiewicz, Jr.

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Platteview (7-9) 16 12 14 23 65
Blair (11-8)          9 19 16 14 58

Game Stats

After seven straight losses to Eastern Midlands Conference rival Blair over the past three seasons, including three in each of the last two seasons, Platteview finally got past the Bears at home. A strong fourth-quarter performance sent Class B No. 9 Blair home with a stinging 65-58 loss just three days after the Bears avenged an EMC tournament title game loss by knocking off then No. 7 Gretna.

Two weeks ago the Trojans got off to a poor start and were blown out in Blair by 23 points. This time around Platteview stunned the Bears with a 10-0 run to open the game. Blair didn't score until just past the midway point of the opening quarter.

Platteview senior Kevin Glasshoff scored six points in the first three minutes to help fuel his team's fast start. Glasshoff enjoyed a career night and finished with 13 points to go with nine rebounds and a blocked shot.

Trojans coach John Stanton said Glasshoff is coming into his own as a player.

"He’s getting a good feel for where he can be most effective and he’s focusing on his strengths," Stanton said. "He’s playing with a lot more confidence and body control."

Platteview's 16-9 first-quarter lead was gone three minutes into the second quarter after Blair's Zach Morris buried a 3-pointer to tie the game at 21-21. The Trojans then went on a 7-2 run to regain the lead at 28-23. But the Bears scored the final five points of the half to even the score.

Blair took its first lead of the game early in the third period on a pair of free throws by Craigen Metcalf. The Bears stayed in front but led by only 44-42 heading into the final quarter.

Platteview's deficit grew to seven points midway through the period when a layup by Morris gave the Bears a 54-47 advantage.

But the Trojans never panicked and the momentum quickly swung in the their favor after junior Brooks Erhart came off the bench and took a charge. Glasshoff was then fouled by Connor Ellis after making a layup, and he made both free throws in the double bonus to pull Platteview within 54-51 with 3:37 left.

Moments later Erhart made a key steal at midcourt while falling to the floor. Senior Adam Heimes quickly signaled for a timeout to avoid a tie-up, then Glasshoff hit a 3-foot shot to pull Platteview within a point.

An Ellis layup put Blair back up by three with 2 ½ minutes to play, but the Trojans regained the lead for good on a pair of layups by seniors Matt Gilleland and Gage Wichman that sparked a decisive 12-2 run to close out the victory.

Heimes nailed a 3-pointer with a minute to play and went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final seconds to top off his second big night in the last three games. He finished with a game-high 20 points after pouring in 23 at Plattsmouth a week ago.

After a long battle back from a bad high ankle sprain in October, Heimes is finally back in form according to his coach.

"Adam has finally overcome the physical and mental effects of having a serious injury," John Stanton said. "His performance in the Plattsmouth game really gave him a boost in that department. Now that his ankle is healed up, he is physically able to move like he had been pre-injury."

Heimes credited his teammates with helping him increase his offensive output.

"I've been moving around better to get open more, and my teammates are doing a good job of looking for me and getting me the ball," the 6-1 senior said.

After three straight losses to Blair, Heimes offered a simple explanation for the Trojans' success in the fourth showdown.

"We just worked better as a team and communicated better on defense to shut them down."

Platteview's defensive effort helped limit Blair to 31 percent shooting, while the Trojans continued to shoot well at 54 percent on the strength of 18 assists in the game.

Gage Wichman also finished in double figures for Platteview with 15 points. He grabbed seven rebounds, dished out five assists, and blocked three shots.

Craigen Metcalf and Zach Morris each had 13 points for Blair. Connor Ellis added 10.


GAME STATS (Points, Rebounds, Assists, Steals, Blocked Shots)

Elliff 4, 0, 4, 0, 0
Erhart 0, 0, 0, 2, 0
Gilleland 3, 2, 1, 0, 1
Glasshoff 13, 9, 0, 0, 1
Heimes 20, 2, 2, 0, 0
Herrmann 2, 1, 0, 1, 1
Meyer 6, 3, 1, 0, 1
Negrete 2, 1, 1, 2, 0
Wichman 15, 7, 5, 0, 3
Wills 0, 2, 4, 0, 0

Totals 65, 27, 18, 5, 7