Couriers snag tough wins over two IHSAA foes

FORT WAYNE (Fri., Feb. 15, 2008) – The Couriers outscored Fort Wayne Canterbury 21-15 in the final quarter to claim a 62-53 victory.

Todd Martin was 8-12 from the field, including 4-6 from three-point range, and finished with a game-high 22 points. Mike Troyer and Carl Martin each added 11 for the Couriers (16-3). Nick Lewis tallied 15 points, Jason Williams 11 and Zach Tomlinson 10 for the Cavaliers (7-11).

Canterbury won the junior varsity matchup 69-51.

GOSHEN (Sat., Feb. 16, 2008) – On Senior Night, the visiting Lakewood Park Panthers, with only one senior on their roster, took the Couriers to the limit before the Couriers prevailed 76-75 in overtime.

The Panthers (9-9) had the hot hand early as 6’5” junior center Tommy Strine nailed four three-pointers propelling his team to an 18-7 lead and 20-13 after just one period. The Couriers scored 25 points in the second quarter for a 38-34 halftime lead but led by only two points (60-58) heading into the final period.

In the fourth quarter Todd Martin racked up 10 of his 35 points. His last bucket tied the game at 70 to force overtime.

Todd Martin added another field goal to begin the scoring in overtime. Evan Stutzman added two free throws for a 74-70 Courier lead. The Panthers’ Brock Taulbee cut the lead to two before Mike Troyer added two more free throws for the Couriers at 44.6 seconds. Nick Parish’s three-pointer made it 76-75 with 8 seconds left. Strine badly missed a trey with 1 second remaining and the Couriers held on to move to 4-0 in the school’s new gym.

Besides Martin’s 35, Carl Martin added 13 points for the Couriers (17-3). Strine matched Todd Martin with 35 while Parish finished with 13 for the visitors from Auburn.

Andrew Parish scored with 1 second remaining as the Panthers edged the Couriers 39-37 in the junior varsity contest. Tyler Eash registered 13 points and Jordan Bontrager 8 for the Couriers (11-5). Travis Brunk scored 11 points in a reserve role and Jordan Brooker 10 for Lakewood Park.

The Couriers travel to Community Baptist in South Bend Friday. The JV game tips off at 5:30 followed by the varsity. The Cougars (9-5 before Grace Baptist of Plymouth tonight) are led by senior Seth Quirey’s 30+ points per game. He has topped 40 points at least four times this season with a school-record 47 vs. Indiana Christian Academy January 25.

Keystone (9-8 before the Fort Wayne Hawks Friday) visits the Courier gym Saturday at 11 a.m. for junior high and varsity contests. The game will end the regular season for both schools.