BOWLING GREEN — Alex Bruskotter has dreamed of competing in Dayton for a state title since he entered high school.
As a youngster, Bruskotter attended the state basketball tournament with his father, often joined by fellow senior Bryson Baker and his father Troy.
Bruskotter, Baker and the rest of the Shelby Whippets won’t need to worry about finding seats at the University of Dayton next weekend.
The Whippets claimed their first regional championship in program history Saturday at Bowling Green State University, upsetting No. 1-ranked and last year’s Division II state runners-up Lutheran West 55-46.
For the first time in program history, Shelby (25-2) will compete in a state semifinal on Saturday, March 23 against Zanesville Maysville (25-3) at UD Arena in Dayton.
Bruskotter nails key free throws down the stretch
One of eight finalist for Ohio’s Mr. Basketball award, Bruskotter scored a game-high 27 points to go along with four rebounds and four assists.
The Wright State commitment drained 5-of-10 field goals — but his performance from the free throw line (15-of-16) was key to Shelby’s success in the game’s final moments.
Bruskotter told members of the media he canned one of his final foul shots with his eyes closed, sparking a grin across the face of Shelby coach Greg Gallaway.
“Those were big free throws for us,” he said. “I think I shot like 10 free throws before, so I had a good rhythm down.
“I hit the first three and I always do this in practice where I shoot a free throw with my eyes closed, and I did that on the last one.”
Whippets outscore Lutheran West 22-9 in fourth quarter
Trailing 37-33 to start the final eight minutes, the Whippets pieced together a fourth quarter for the ages — but not without facing adversity.
Lutheran West knocked down a 3-pointer to take a seven-point lead with just under eight minutes left. But the Longhorns didn’t score again until 32.5 seconds remained on the clock.
Shelby’s ensuing 14-0 run gave the Whippets a 47-40 advantage with under a minute to play.
Coach Greg Gallaway said that period, when Shelby outscored the Longhorns 22-9, is the reason his team is bound for Dayton.
“That’s why we’re here,” he said. “Basketball is such a game of runs and we’ve been in moments like this a lot this year.
“Our seniors and veterans know how to play in those moments. We attacked their runs well. When they made a shot, we stay composed and we didn’t get in panic mode. I’m just so proud.”
Ramsey ‘flips the page,’ finds confidence in key moments
With most fans on their feet throughout the fourth quarter, Shelby fed off the energy inside the Stroh Center.
Senior Issaiah Ramsey said the atmosphere was something which fueled the Whippets’ intensity on both ends of the court.
“It was momentum,” he said. “When that 3 was made (to begin the fourth quarter), it opened our eyes.
“Our defense allowed us to go on that run. Our halftime talk was about how our offense would come and defense is key, and I thought we really executed that well in the second half.”
Ramsey finished with 11 points to go along with two steals and an assist.
The senior spoke about his confidence level rising as shots continued to fall when it mattered most.
“I saw one (shot) go in and that instantly boosted my confidence,” Ramsey said. “This game was really about turning the page, especially for me.
“Last game, I struggled and I struggled to turn the page. This game, no matter the outcome and how many I missed or made, I had to really flip the page and I thought I executed that well.”
Witnessing history
Bruskotter and Ramsey were backed by eight points from Casey Lantz, who played on a tender right ankle Saturday. Brayden DeVito added six points and Bryson Baker scored three.
Shelby’s matchup with Maysville on March 23 at 2 p.m. marks the first state semifinal appearance in the school’s boys basketball history.
The Whippets’ last Elite Eight appearance came during the 1956-57 season when the legendary Larry Siegfried, a five-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, led Shelby to a regional final.
Gallaway said he knows how special this season is in the history of Shelby basketball.
“In our tradition there’s been a lot of really good basketball,” he said. “We’re talking NBA championships, All-Americans at Ohio State, but this group is different. This group is special.
“We separate ourselves from how connected we are. That’s one of our core values we take really seriously. When practice is done, they (players) hang out. You can’t force that as a coach.
“I know this sounds crazy, but it’s not because we made shots today, it’s the connectedness. We truly believe that and that’s why we’re going down to Dayton.”
The Whippets have eight seniors on this year’s roster, Bruskotter, Ramsey, Baker, Lantz, Tanner Hartz, Brennan Lewis, Eli Schwemely and Amareon Russell, who have preached the value of team chemistry.
Ramsey said the group of eight has been playing together since they were kids — making this season mean even more.
“That’s what makes it more special,” he said. “We’re going in a dog fight with guys beside us who’ve been together this whole time.”
Support from the Shelby community is another reason Bruskotter said this team is hungry for more.
“There was no extra motivation needed,” he said. “It makes the moment so much more special, seeing how many people have our back and want to see us succeed.
“It inspires us to do it for our community. They deserve it.”