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7/27/05
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">HENDERSON, Nev. - The Cincinnati-based D1 Greyhounds were part of history against a familiar opponent Tuesday night.
They just wished the outcome were different.
The Greyhounds surrendered a seven-point halftime lead in a 73-67 loss to the defending champion Spiece Indy Heat in the open division championship game of the Reebok Big Time Tournament at Foothill High School.
The Heat is the only team to win consecutive tournament titles, something Greyhounds and North College Hill guard O.J. Mayo hoped his squad could do one day.
"We have an opportunity to win it two years in a row, this year and next year so it's real important to us," Mayo said earlier this week.
Mayo led the Greyhounds with 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while Bill Walker added 16. In nine games Mayo averaged 22 points, 17th best in the tournament.
Greg Oden was named tournament MVP and grabbed two key rebounds in the final two minutes of the game helping the Heat to its second victory against the Greyhounds in the tournament.
Oden, one of three Heat players committed to attend Ohio State in the fall of 2006, made four free throws after getting fouled twice while grabbing the rebounds giving Spiece a 70-63 lead the Greyhounds couldn't overcome.
Oden, who also had eight blocks, and guard Eric Gordon had 18 points each followed by Mike Conley with 15.
"It just came down to who could make the most plays," said Walker. "We wanted to win.
"It's disappointing to lose, but to lose to a team like that one with so many good players is saying something. Our games are competitive because we know each other very well and it's a good rivalry."
The Greyhounds served notice that they will be a favorite here next year when they plan on competing in the event again.
After an 0-2 start in pool play with losses to the Heat and the Southern California All-Stars they got better with each game as evidenced by impressive performances in the quarterfinal and semifinal games played earlier Tuesday.
"We're just playing hard and defending better," Greyhounds center Keenan Ellis said after a 79-63 win against the Oakland Soldiers in the quarterfinals. "We just try to change a lot of shots.
"We want to make it difficult for people to score."
Although the Greyhounds are known for their ability to score with high-flyers such as Mayo and Walker, the defensive effort of the 6-foot-11 Ellis, who will be a junior at North College Hill, Walker and 6-8 Alex Tyus in the paint made a difference throughout the week.
Playing three games in one day leading up to the championship didn't bother the Greyhounds, according to Walker, who hopes he will one day be able to watch a film of what turned out to be a well-played championship between two powerhouses.
"It was a great game," Walker said. "It was probably a great game to watch as a fan.
"I'm sure one day I'll be able to sit down and enjoy it."
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