3rd times the charm, Winthrop up ends the Radford Highlanders

By Steven Bowers

Winthrop got a measure of revenge in the semifinals of the Big South Tournament as they defeated Radford 61-46 and secured their 11th championship game appearance, more than any other school.

 The Eagles assured there would be a new Big South Conference champ this year by knocking off the defending champion Highlanders. The win moved Winthrop into a nationally-televised rubber match against rival Coastal Carolina in Conway.

Just five days prior, the Eagles had fallen in their second heartbreaking two-point loss to Radford this season.

In the most recent contest, Winthrop watched a 12-point lead with 9:25 to play evaporate as the Eagles failed to score again and disappeared completely as back-to-back conference Player of the Year and soon-to-be NBA draft pick Art Parakhouski made a putback at the buzzer.

 Winthrop made sure this one wasn’t close enough at the end for there to be any heartbreak.

A loyal gathering of Eagles’ followers watched on the big screen as the Winthrop Coliseum hosted a viewing party for anyone who wished to attend.

The Eagles controlled the pace from the outset. Senior center Andy Buechert was given an assignment similar to the one he had in the 2008 final against 7-feet-7-inches tall UNC-Asheville center Kenny George.

He was to bang the senior center Parakhouski and force him to expend a lot of energy by defending.

 Parakhouski has been averaging more than 20 points and 10 rebounds against Winthrop this year. He added to his nation-leading total of double-doubles with 11 and 18 respectively, but the 11 points tied his season-low. He also committed four turnovers.

Meanwhile, Buechert scored six early points and ended up with 10 points, five rebounds and a career-high five blocked shots.

Parakhouski popped his jersey and said the Eagles would remember him after the last game. He was a little more modest after this one.

“Winthrop played really good defense and deserved to win,” Parakhouski said. “I’ve been playing this way all year. I just couldn’t carry it to the end.”

NBA scouts from Oklahoma City, Washington, Golden State and Minnesota were in attendance to get a look at the big man.

Senior forward and two-time Big South Defensive Player of the Year Mantoris Robinson did his usual shut-down job on the Highlander’s second-leading scorer Lazar Trifunovic, holding him to one point, which is 12 and a half below his average. He was 0-for-7 with four turnovers.

Radford took a 30-28 lead with 17:03 left as they started the second half with a 9-2 run. Sophomore guard Reggie Middleton, who finished with a team-high 16 points, answered immediately with a 3-pointer that landed on the back of the rim and got a shooter’s roll to give Winthrop back a lead they would never relinquish: 31-30.

 The Eagles embarked on a 19-3 run, and by the time it was over, they led 47-33 with 9:23 to play.

This scenario looked eerily similar to the one the previous weekend as Winthrop held a 14-point lead with 9:23 to play instead of a 12-point lead with 9:25 remaining.

History looked destined to repeat itself as the Eagles only scored five points in the next seven minutes. This time the difference was being able to hold off Radford and make free throws to seal the deal.

 After the last meeting, Winthrop coach Randy Peele complained that Parakhouski lived at the free throw line.

This time, the Eagles made 18-of-26 from the line after only attempting 17 free throws in the first two games; Radford took 52 free throws in those first two contests.

“The big difference was at the line,” Peele said.

Middleton, who did not score in the first half, hit a big driving shot with 1:44 to play to give Winthrop a commanding 54-44 lead.

“My teammates and coaches reminded me at halftime not to get frustrated,” Middleton said.

As the game ended, the rival fans of host Coastal Carolina chanted, “We want Winthrop.”

They got their wish.