HARRODSBURG — The Danville boys were in need of any sort of win, but this one helped them in more ways than one.
Danville held off Mercer County down the stretch Saturday night for a 64-56 victory in the Farmers National Bank 12th Region Madness at Mercer.
The Admirals halted a five-game losing streak by holding their ground in the fourth quarter after Mercer scored 10 straight points to wipe out most of their double-digit lead.
Danville coach Andrew Zaheri said the fact that they withstood the Titans’ best punch was a good sign for a team that he said has frequently been floored by such blows in his first two seasons.
“When they punched us in the mouth, I just wanted our boys to realize that this is a type of game that we don’t have a lot of ‘W’s’ in our column,” Zaheri said. “Can we withstand that, or are we going to make the mental mistakes and let a little bit of mental fatigue cause us to lose? I thought after that last timeout (during Mercer’s run), I thought they really responded.”
Alex Burnside had 13 points and six rebounds in the fourth quarter for Danville (4-10), and his play late in the game helped pull the Admirals through. He hit seven of eight free throws in the final 1 minute, 6 seconds and rebounded most of Mercer’s missed shots down the stretch.
Zaheri said he was pleased with the physical play of both Burnside and Damir Karapandzic, who combined for 11 of Danville’s 13 fourth-quarter rebounds.
“There was a couple possessions where it looked like Alex and Damir were fighting each other for rebounds,” he said.
Burnside finished with 12 rebounds along with a game-high 22 points, and Karapandzic had 11 boards.
Mercer (9-7) had beaten Danville just seven days earlier, winning 59-47 in a Somerset tournament.
“I could care less what Danville’s record is. They’re long, they’re athletic, they’re quick, and on any given night they’re going to be able to beat any team in this region,” Mercer coach Brian Britt said.
Britt said the Titans allowed Danville to control the pace for the first three quarters, and they went 3 for 21 from 3-point range against the Admirals’ 2-3 zone defense.
Danville held its largest lead at 54-41 before Mercer rallied behind six free throws by Will Hager, two layups by Marcus Warren and two turnovers by the Admirals, pulling within 54-51 with 2:44 remaining.
Mercer then missed a 3-point shot that could have tied the game, Burnside stopped the bleeding with a layup at 1:36 and the Titans got only one more basket.
Danville scored eight straight points to take a 23-19 lead with 5:02 to go in the first half. Karapandzic came off the bench to spark that run with a pair of layups, the latter a reverse shot that put the Admirals in front for the first time.
“By no means did this win solve all of our problems, but we’ve been trying to work on a few new things, and ... when you’re dealing with teenagers, confidence goes a long way,” Zaheri said.
Jordan Duncan had 14 points, Hager had 12 rebounds and John Ingram had 10 assists for Mercer.
Farmers National Bank 12th Region Madness
At Mercer County
Danville 15 31 45 64
Mercer County 16 25 36 56
DANVILLE (3-10) — Alex Burnside 22, Devonta Alcorn 6, Jawan Grey 6, Christian Gateskill-Fuqua 13, Jakobi Turner 9, Cody Woolridge 2, Damir Karapandzic 6.
MERCER (9-6) — Jordan Duncan 14, John Ingram 3, Will Hager 9, Russell Sims 1, Blake Pennington 11, Marcus Warren 12, Tommy Craig 5.
Danville held off Mercer County down the stretch Saturday night for a 64-56 victory in the Farmers National Bank 12th Region Madness at Mercer.
The Admirals halted a five-game losing streak by holding their ground in the fourth quarter after Mercer scored 10 straight points to wipe out most of their double-digit lead.
Danville coach Andrew Zaheri said the fact that they withstood the Titans’ best punch was a good sign for a team that he said has frequently been floored by such blows in his first two seasons.
“When they punched us in the mouth, I just wanted our boys to realize that this is a type of game that we don’t have a lot of ‘W’s’ in our column,” Zaheri said. “Can we withstand that, or are we going to make the mental mistakes and let a little bit of mental fatigue cause us to lose? I thought after that last timeout (during Mercer’s run), I thought they really responded.”
Alex Burnside had 13 points and six rebounds in the fourth quarter for Danville (4-10), and his play late in the game helped pull the Admirals through. He hit seven of eight free throws in the final 1 minute, 6 seconds and rebounded most of Mercer’s missed shots down the stretch.
Zaheri said he was pleased with the physical play of both Burnside and Damir Karapandzic, who combined for 11 of Danville’s 13 fourth-quarter rebounds.
“There was a couple possessions where it looked like Alex and Damir were fighting each other for rebounds,” he said.
Burnside finished with 12 rebounds along with a game-high 22 points, and Karapandzic had 11 boards.
Mercer (9-7) had beaten Danville just seven days earlier, winning 59-47 in a Somerset tournament.
“I could care less what Danville’s record is. They’re long, they’re athletic, they’re quick, and on any given night they’re going to be able to beat any team in this region,” Mercer coach Brian Britt said.
Britt said the Titans allowed Danville to control the pace for the first three quarters, and they went 3 for 21 from 3-point range against the Admirals’ 2-3 zone defense.
Danville held its largest lead at 54-41 before Mercer rallied behind six free throws by Will Hager, two layups by Marcus Warren and two turnovers by the Admirals, pulling within 54-51 with 2:44 remaining.
Mercer then missed a 3-point shot that could have tied the game, Burnside stopped the bleeding with a layup at 1:36 and the Titans got only one more basket.
Danville scored eight straight points to take a 23-19 lead with 5:02 to go in the first half. Karapandzic came off the bench to spark that run with a pair of layups, the latter a reverse shot that put the Admirals in front for the first time.
“By no means did this win solve all of our problems, but we’ve been trying to work on a few new things, and ... when you’re dealing with teenagers, confidence goes a long way,” Zaheri said.
Jordan Duncan had 14 points, Hager had 12 rebounds and John Ingram had 10 assists for Mercer.
Farmers National Bank 12th Region Madness
At Mercer County
Danville 15 31 45 64
Mercer County 16 25 36 56
DANVILLE (3-10) — Alex Burnside 22, Devonta Alcorn 6, Jawan Grey 6, Christian Gateskill-Fuqua 13, Jakobi Turner 9, Cody Woolridge 2, Damir Karapandzic 6.
MERCER (9-6) — Jordan Duncan 14, John Ingram 3, Will Hager 9, Russell Sims 1, Blake Pennington 11, Marcus Warren 12, Tommy Craig 5.
