The Journal

Issue date: 3/1/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jeff Curry Sophomore guard Doug Stiegemeier is tripped under the basket during the Webster vs. Fontbonne game Feb. 23. This was game two of the SLIAC Conference Tournament semi-final held at Webster University.

Media Credit: Jeff Curry Junior Chad Fournie of Fontbonne University cuts down a strand of the net after his team beat Eureka College during the SLIAC Tournament Championship game at Webster Feb. 24.

As the final seconds ticked away, with Webster trailing by three, sophomore guard Ryan Turk saw he had a chance to tie the game.


Turk planted his feet behind the line and let the ball fly, as the game clock ticked down to four seconds.


"I thought it was down," Turk said. "But it was a little long."


Turk's promising arc bounced off the back of the rim, dashing Webster's hopes to carry its regular-season momentum through the conference championship.


The fourth-seeded Fontbonne Griffins upset the Gorloks 67-62 in the first round of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament Feb. 23.


After trailing 28-22 at the half, the Gorloks stormed back to take a 32-30 lead. The two teams would trade the lead for the next eight minutes, but as the game neared the end, Fontbonne began to pull away.


The Griffins took a 63-58 lead into the final minute, but a defensive rebound and long pass by junior forward Darin Hoggatt set up a layup by sophomore forward Steve Hrdlicka, making the score 63-60, and bringing the Grant Gym crowd to its feet.


A steal by senior forward Shawn Nichoalds gave the ball back to the Gorloks. Nichoalds was fouled on the play, and left the game with an injury. Turk took the free throw shots instead, hitting them both, making the score 63-62 with 34 seconds to play.


Senior guard Scott Spinner stole the ball from Fontbonne's Trevor White seconds later, and took his time in setting up a shot. With 16 seconds left, Spinner's jump shot fell short.


"The reason I get in the gym and shoot every day is to justify that shot," Spinner said. "I came up short. But we had a chance to win it, and that's really all you can ask for."


The missed shot forced the Gorloks to foul Fontbonne's Patrick McCoy, who led the Griffins with 26 points. McCoy made both of his free thows, making the score 65-62, with six seconds left.


The Gorloks wasted no time in getting the ball down the court, and it wound up in Turk's hands, with a chance to tie.


"I wanted it," Turk said. "It was just a little long."


The miss forced Webster to foul McCoy again, and the 5'11'' sophomore sunk both shots, putting the score at 67-62 - the final nail in the Gorlok coffin.


"They executed and did what they were good at," Turk said. "They made the plays they needed to make, and we didn't."


Head Coach Chris Bunch said Fontbonne simply played the better game, and cited Webster's poor performance from the free-throw line as an important factor in the loss.


"You can't shoot 59 percent from the line and beat good teams," Bunch said. "Sometimes you can overcome that, and sometimes it's going to jump up and bite you."


Bunch was disappointed with the way the promising season ended, but he said it's all part of the game.

"That's basketball. One team wins it and everybody else loses it," Bunch said. "And now we've got a long time before we start trying to do it again."


It was the final game for seniors Jeff Messman, Shawn Nichoalds and Scott Spinner.


Spinner, who worked his way to the top of Webster's career assists list Feb. 14, said he will not forget his time as a Gorlok


"It's always tough when it's all over," Spinner said. "I've loved every minute at Webster. It's been my home for the last four years, and I'll always think of it as a home."


Fontbonne advanced to face Eureka, who knocked off MacMurray 95-81 in the first round.

After leading the entire game, the Griffins allowed a 14-point Eureka comeback in the last seven minutes to force overtime. The Griffins defeated Eureka 88-79, earning them a spot in the NCAA Division III National Tournament.

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