Finding Answers
Webb's 3-pointer helps Indiana claim tournament title in 62-52 win over Derry
Derry had just pulled within a point for the second time in the fourth quarter when William Stockett-Harter’s short turnaround jumper dropped through with three minutes to play.
The Trojans had been trading punches with Indiana all night and had carved out another opening.
That opening disappeared on the next trip down.
Aaron Webb slipped off two screens, settled on the right wing and caught Will Olsen’s pass in rhythm and knocked down a 3-point field goal that helped send Indiana to a 62-52 win in the Indians tournament championship game Tuesday.
Webb finished with 22 points, Darius Webb added 17 despite missing much of the second quarter with an ankle issue, and the Indians secured their eighth win in nine games after an 0-2 start.
“We weren’t hitting anything in the first half,” Indiana coach Andy Lansberry said. “We scored 28 points, but I can’t tell you how many open looks we had. Aaron started hot but cooled off. Darius got hurt, and we didn’t have him for an extended period. (Not having him) makes a big difference, because a lot of our plays are designed with him setting a screen. That is something I have to be better at as a coach: getting other guys ready.”
Even with the shooting struggles and the injury, Indiana kept finding answers. The Indians trailed 30–28 at halftime and had to adjust on the fly without their 6‑foot-4, 235‑pound power forward, who turned his ankle after scoring inside to give Indiana an 18–16 lead early in the second quarter.
Derry took advantage of Darius Webb’s absence, outscoring Indiana 14-10 the rest of the frame and doing most of its damage around the rim. Other than a Hudson Fridley 3-pointer midway through the period, everything the Trojans earned came inside, including trips to the free throw line for Brayden Robinson and Liam McMahen.
Webb returned for the second half, forcing Derry to adjust. The Trojans scored just 11 points in each of the final two quarters and finished six points below their season average.
The matchup that mattered most belonged to Aaron Webb, who outscored 6‑7 junior standout Stanley Rajkovich, 22–12. Rajkovich, who entered the game averaging nearly 23 per game, managed six in each half but never found the space he typically creates.
“Aaron wanted this one,” Lansberry said. “The matchup with Rajkovich meant something to him. He is a great player, and Aaron took that challenge.”
Indiana’s offense, meanwhile, found its rhythm through timely plays rather than long runs. Olsen fell just short of double figures with nine points and delivered six assists against only two turnovers.
Sophomore guard Tai Allison offered one of the game’s most important sequences, stealing an offensive rebound out of Stockett‑Harter’s hands and converting a layup to push Indiana ahead 53–50 after Robinson had cut the margin to one with a coast‑to‑coast finish.
“I want Tai to get as much recognition as he can,” Lansberry said. “That guy is tasked with so much that goes unnoticed. He does so many little things. He has a championship attitude, a championship work ethic and makes championship plays. There are so many things he does that come up big for us.”
Indiana’s steadiness showed again early in the third quarter, when the lead changed four times in the opening minutes. After Fridley buried his third 3‑pointer to put Derry ahead 39–38, Darius Webb tied the game by hitting the first of two free throws. Allison tipped the miss on the second attempt, and the ball found Aaron Webb, who was fouled and hit both shots to give Indiana a 41–39 lead.
The Indians never trailed again.
Aaron Webb followed with a roundhouse dunk, and Darius Webb added a layup to stretch the score to 45–39, Indiana’s largest lead until the closing minutes.
Even when Derry pushed back, Indiana had an answer. Drew Brocious, whom Lansberry challenged at halftime, hit both of his 3‑point attempts in the first two minutes of the third quarter.
“I told him at halftime that we needed some 3s,” Lansberry said. “He said, ‘Coach, I got you.’ He’s one of those kids who, when you need a play, he’s not afraid to make one.”
The same was true of Aaron Webb, who delivered five straight points in the fourth quarter, including an alley‑oop dunk from his brother off a backscreen. That sequence set the stage for the shot that sealed the game.
“He’s the best player on the floor, so you want to get him the ball,” Lansberry said. “That 3 that iced it, that was just ice cold – an unbelievable shot at the right time.”
Derry’s effort kept the game tight throughout. Robinson led the Trojans with 15 points, eight of them in the first half. Fridley added 11, and Rajkovich’s 12 came through steady work inside.
The Trojans finished the second quarter on a 12–7 run to take their halftime lead, and neither team led by more than four in the first quarter, which ended 16–all.
Indiana closed the game by making six of its final eight free throw attempts and finished 15‑for‑23 overall.
For Lansberry, it felt good to earn a win against a coach he’s long respected. Derry’s Tom Esposito is a Blairsville High School graduate.
“As a younger coach, I looked up to some coaches; he is definitely one of them,” Lansberry said. “They’re always well-prepared. They know their sets. They’re always ready. I definitely look up to a coach like Tom Esposito.”
Earning its own tournament crown sets Indiana up nicely for next week’s section play. Indiana travels to Armstrong on Jan. 6.
“We started 0–2, and now we’re sitting here 8–3,” Lansberry said. “A lot of teams could have quit. We’ve battled adversity all year. It says everything about our team. We have a bunch of fighters. I’m tremendously blessed to coach these guys.”
The all-tournament team consisted Beau Thomas (Punxsutawney), Max Persichetti (River Valley), Rajkovich and Robinson (Derry) and Olsen and Darius Webb from Indiana. Aaron Webb, who totaled 36 points across the two games, was named the most valuable player.
Derry (7-5)
Irvin 3 0-0 6, Robinson 6 3-4 15, McMahen 0 1-2 1, Rajkovich 6 0-0 12, Stockett-Harter 2 0-0 4, Lenhert 1 0-0 3, Fridley 3 2-3 11, Totals 21 6-9 52
Indiana (8-3)
A.Webb 7 5-8 22, Olsen 2 4-6 9, D.Webb 7 3-5 17, Allison 1 3-4 5, D.Brocious 2 0-0 6, J.Brocious 1 0-0 3, Sevajian 0 0-0 0, Nkromah-Harris 0 0-0 0, Totals 20 15-23 62
Derry 16 14 11 11 — 52
Indiana 16 12 17 17 — 62
3-point field goals: Derry 4 (Fridley 3, Lenhert 1), Indiana 7 (A.Webb 3, D.Brocious 2, J.Brocious, Olsen).
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