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Mountaineers fall in state finals

Controversial calls lead to pair of game-winning Pewamo-Westphalia free throws

Adam Niemi/Daily News photos Iron Mountain’s Charlie Gerhard reacts as Pewamo-Westphalia celebrates its first Division 3 state championship Saturday in East Lansing. For more pictures, see today's paper.

EAST LANSING — Iron Mountain was 0.7 seconds away from a state championship Saturday.

Pewamo-Westphalia’s Collin Trierweiler hit a pair of free throws after controversial intentional foul and travel calls to give the Pirates a 53-52 win for their first-ever state championship.

Just 0.7 seconds. After 80 years since Iron Mountain’s last state finals appearance, 0.7 seconds was all that stood between Iron Mountain and the state championship trophy.

“I don’t know if the other team won,” Iron Mountain sophomore Foster Wonders said. “I know for a fact we didn’t lose that game. I don’t know what to say.”

Marcus Johnson shared his reaction to the game’s end.

Iron Mountain's Foster Wonders dribbles against Pewamo-Westphalia's Nathan Wirth during the Division 3 state finals Saturday. Wonders led the Mountaineers with 20 points and surpassed 1,000 points for his career.

“You can’t really do anything. The official called it,” he said. “Same thing with the intentional foul. We had fouls to give. We thought it was the right decision to foul them before they got a shot off.”

The travel and intentional foul calls were met with fierce boos from around the arena.

When asked about the foul calls, coach Johnson stared in silence at reporters for 18 seconds before responding.

“They called a travel on a made basket and an intentional foul on a play on the ball,” he said. “Next.”

The Mountaineers (27-1) led by one and junior point guard Johnson passed the ball across the court to a wide open Tony Feira, whose layup was waved off with a travel call with a 52-51 lead and five seconds remaining. It would have sealed the game.

The Pirates (28-0) took possession and Collin Trierweiler struggled to get upcourt with Johnson guarding close.

Johnson went for a foul but was called for an intentional foul, putting Trierweiler at the line with 0:00.7 remaining. Iron Mountain took a timeout and Trierweiler made the first free throw when he got back to the line. The Mountaineers took another timeout.

Trierweiler made the go-ahead free-throw.

“I don’t know. It comes down to judgment and things didn’t go our way there,” Coach Johnson said. “That’s part of the breaks of the sport. Man, I don’t know, the way that guy… the way they reacted. I don’t know what you’re supposed to do. It’s a part of the game. It stinks to be on this end of it.”

Pewamo-Westphalia head coach Luke Pohl said the ending was a tough call for Iron Mountain.

“Obviously my heart goes out for Iron Mountain,” Pohl said. “I do know this though: I know the MHSAA has put a huge emphasis on that intentional foul. I believe if he had not wrapped his arms around Colin he would’ve gotten a layup. Tough, tough call. I mean if I’m on the other side, obviously very emotional. I would feel really bad about it too. I’m just gonna leave it at that.”

Iron Mountain led 52-49 with 21 seconds after a pair of free throws by Wonders.

Trierweiler answered with a layup to tighten the lead and set up the final sequence. He said it was “scary” facing the rim with the state championship on the line, but found a way to focus.

“I just tried to calm myself down and think of myself out in the driveway with my older brother,” Trierweiler said. “We used to practice all the time and it was one of my favorite things to do. I always dreamed of the moment to be at the free-throw line in a big moment, maybe not quite this big it was a little scary, but I just tried to block out the background and think of the trees in my backyard and put them up and shoot ’em in.”

Iron Mountain’s largest lead was eight points with 2:46 in the second quarter.

Wonders, who scored his 1,000th point in the first half, finished with 20 points. Johnson finished with 17 points and a team-high six rebounds.

Trierweiler finished with 15 points and eight rebounds for Pewamo-Westphalia. Andre Smith hit five 3-pointers and had a game-high 21 points.

“We put in a tremendous effort,” Coach Johnson said. “It didn’t just start this year. It’s been going on for years with these guys. Their effort has never been in question. I’m really proud of them for that. Pewamo, really great effort by them too.”

Pewamo-Westphalia 11 10 14 18 — 53

Iron Mountain 15 11 14 12 — 52

PEWAMO-WESTPHALIA (53): Smith 21, Bearss 15, Wirth 7, Trierweiler 6, Hengesbach 4. FT: 5-6. F: 14. FG: 20-47. 3PT: 8-22. Rebounds: 30 (Bearss 8). Assists: 12 (Trierweiler 5). Blocks: Bearss 1. Turnovers: 8. Steals: 3 (Bearss 2).

IRON MOUNTAIN (52): Wonders 20, Johnson 17, Vicenzi 7, Gerhard 4, Feira 2, Brown 2. FT: 6-10. F: 10. FG: 21-42. 3PT: 4-12 (Johnson 3, Vicenzi 1). Rebounds: 20 (Johnson 6). Assists: 6 (Johnson 3). Turnovers: 7. Blocks: 3 (Gerhard 2, Vicenzi 1). Steals: 3.

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