By Dale Miller
dale.miller@theindependent.com

But this matchup was more important.

The Dragons claimed a 49-46 triumph in a defensive battle in the Class C-2, Subdistrict 2 championship at Hastings St. Cecilia.

Heartland (19-3) got a couple of shots off after Brady Firley made two free throws with 16.2 seconds left to put the Dragons (21-1) ahead 49-46.

Eric Ehmen's trey from the right wing rattled in-and-out. The Huskies got the rebound and the ball out to Ned Goertzen on the left side, but his desperation try at the buzzer fell short.

"We put the ball in Ned's hands," Heartland coach Joe Lundstrom said. "He's one of our best players."

A missed shot at the buzzer seemed a fitting way for this one to end. Due to aggressive defense by both teams, neither offense got into much of a rhythm during the course of the game.

"We've been stressing defense all year," Deshler coach Ryan Hogue said. "We felt in the first Heartland game (a 67-56 loss on Jan. 11) we did not play well defensively. We let them get going and gave up too many threes in transition."

That didn't happen this time. Heartland struggled to a 4-for-16 performance on 3-pointers.

"This was no surprise," Lundstrom said. "Both teams knew what the other was going to do. Both teams have great defenses.

"We gave up a few too many threes. Deshler did a great job on offensive rebounds late in the game. That's the difference."

Kellen Goertzen's basket gave the Huskies a 38-36 lead midway through the fourth quarter before Deshler hit the boards hard to take the lead.

Daniel Werner, a 6-foot-6 senior who scored a game-high 17 points, tipped in his own miss and was fouled with 3:33 left. He missed the free throw but the Dragons again grabbed an offensive rebound and took a 40-38 lead on Kale Meyer's basket 16 seconds later.

Werner scored again on an offensive rebound to push the lead to 42-38 with 2:28 remaining. Deshler led by five with 1:33 left, but free throw struggles denied the Dragons the chance to put the game away.

Meyer and Jens Scholl went a combined 2-for-6 in an 18-second span, allowing Heartland to close to within 47-46 on Wade Janzen's 3-point play with 17.9 seconds left. Scholl, a 72 percent free throw shooter, missed both of his and was held to eight points on 2-for-14 shooting.

Hogue was happy with how his team responded to its 8-for-15 free throw fourth quarter.

"It's just a tribute to our kids," he said. "We missed some free throws that could have put it away. We kept on Heartland. We didn't give up a three. Ehmen and (Ned) Goertzen are two of the best shooters in the state, let alone C-2."

Ned Goertzen finished with 16 points while Kellen Goertzen added 10.

Despite the loss, Heartland's season is likely to continue since it came into the day second in the wild-card standings. But even repeated assurances about likely earning a wild card booth aren't a comfort to Lundstrom.

"That's what people keep telling me," Lundstrom said. "We had that (situation) last year and it didn't work out.

"These kids are competitors. They wanted to win."

DESHLER (21-1)

Scholl 2-14 2-4 8, Renz 1-3 0-0 3, Firley 3-10 2-2 8, Meyer 2-6 3-6 8,Werner 7-11 3-5 17, Loupin 1-2 2-2 5. Totals 16-46 12-19 49.

HEARTLAND (19-3)

Ehmen 3-13 2-4 9, K. Goertzen 5-6 0-0 10, Gabehart 0-0 0-1 0, N. Goertzen 6-13 2-5 16, Hollstien 1-4 1-2 3, Janzen 2-3 3-3 8. Totals 17-39 8-15 46.

Deshler 9 9 14 1749

Heartland 7 11 9 1946

3-point field goalsDeshler 5-14 (Scholl 2-5, Renz 1-3, Firley 0-2, Meyer 1-2, Loupin 1-2), Heartland 4-16 (Janzen 1-2, Ehmen 1-7, N. Goertzen 2-6, Hollstien 0-1). Fouled outnone. ReboundsDeshler 28 (Werner 11), Heartland 33 (Hollstien 10). AssistsDeshler 3 (Firley 2), Heartland 5 (Ehmen 3). TurnoversDeshler 9, Heartland 17. Total foulsDeshler 12, Heartland 19. Technicalsnone.