Indians bounced from sectional final
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
CHILLICOTHE — Two consecutive technical fouls swung the momentum of the Division II SE District Sectional final, leading to a turn of events that didn't go in favor of the co-South Central Ohio League champion Hillsboro Indians, Friday night at Southeastern High School.
For the second straight year, the Indians have been knocked out of the sectional final round.
The Indians were leading by three points with 5:20 remaining in the fourth, until back-to-back technical fouls called on Aric Carroll, who slightly bounced (and caught) the basketball at his waist (not saying a word), followed by, in the same sequence of events, HHS head coach Tim Davis getting called with the second technical foul as the official was telling him the explanation of the call.
Hillsboro went on to lose their lead, and the game, by a score of 55-47, as Waverly knocked out both SCOL champions, the other Miami Trace, in the sectional round.
The game had just one lead change and was tied four times.
Davis talked about the sequence of events involving the technical fouls following the game.
"I told him (the official) 'That was a weak one,'" Davis said. "I knew that Aric Carroll did not say anything profane. I know Aric Carroll … I've been around Aric for four years, and I know that Aric wasn't going to say anything to deserve a technical foul in that situation. When he (the official) came to me, I said that was a weak one, and then he T'd me up.
"That was the momentum shift Waverly needed, giving them the momentum in the fourth quarter. We had our chances, but we weren't able to execute. We had some turnovers in the paint, late in the fourth quarter."
Following the technical fouls, Waverly standout Jake Kretzer, a junior who stands at 6-6, made 3-of-4 free throws, tying the game at 38. Kretzer finished with a game-high 27 points, making three 3-pointers and going 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. He made all eight free throws in the fourth quarter. During the game, Kretzer scored his 1,000th career point.
Kretzer put the Tigers (11-11) in the lead with a 3-pointer near the 5:00 mark, since Waverly regained possession of the ball after the technical fouls.
Hillsboro's Chase Gilliland put the game back at even, matching the 3-pointer of Waverly, tying the game at 41 with 4:21 left in the fourth.
The momentum went back to Waverly following an 8-3 run, along with a couple HHS turnovers for a 49-44 lead with 55.8 left in regulation.
The Indians (14-8) regained possession of the basketball, missing a 3-point attempt, followed with two free throws by the Tigers' Jean Paul White for a 51-44 Tiger advantage.
Gilliland sank his fourth 3-pointer of the game with 34.5 left in the quarter, bringing the Tribe within four points of the Tigers' lead.
HHS couldn't produce offensively following a timeout, missing a 3-pointer, along with the ensuing put-back chance, forcing them to foul, as the Tigers made their final four free throws en route to the sectional title.
"Down the stretch, in the fourth quarter, their height got the best of us. They did a good job of going four-around-one, and we were faced to guard Kretzer, which took the help side away," Davis said. "(Harrison) Martin was able to get a couple of ones, and they were able to get a couple baskets down the stretch and we weren't."
The Indians were led by Gilliland with 12 points, followed by Devante Ames and Eli Hogsett with nine points each. Jarrod Hart scored eight total points (all in the opening quarter) in the balanced scoring effort by the Indians. Carroll finished with six, and Tyrand Cumberland scored three points.
"We fought hard, and I am extremely proud of the way our kids played tonight and for the entire season," Davis said. "And tonight we just came up a little short."
The overflow of emotion wasn't present in the first quarter, as the Indians played with "Hart," so to speak.
Hart, a HHS sophomore, scored the Indians' first eight points, keeping them in the game when things were sketchy offensively for both teams in the first 8:00 of sectional tournament play.
Unofficially, the Tigers missed their first six shots, as Hart took advantage, scoring on a put-back basket, a layup (with the assist from Hogsett) another layup, and a steal of an inbounds pass followed by two points under the hoop, for an 8-6 HHS lead with 21.9 left in the frame.
Ames scored the final two points of the first when he bounced the ball off a Waverly defender, gaining possession and making two easy points off an inbounds play as the buzzer sounded.
With HHS leading 10-6 at the beginning of the second frame, they added to their lead for a 23-13 advantage at halftime.
The second quarter belonged to Gilliland, who made two 3-pointers, one to put HHS up 13-8 and the second one to make the score 21-13. At the 5:40 mark of the second, Carroll sank a 3-ball.
"The game plan was to spread them out and attack the basket. I thought we did that extremely well in the first half," Davis said. "We were just unable to execute in the paint in the second half. We were still getting some attack (in the second half), that we wanted, but we just couldn't execute."
Davis talked about the Indians' defense in the first half, as they held Waverly to 13 points. One big element was Harrison sat most of the first half, gaining two fouls with 5:12 left in the first frame.
"We knew we would have to ball pressure and have good help side, and we did a good job of controlling Kretzer," Davis said. "The game plan was to make them guard us and we made Harrison pick up two fouls in the first quarter, which made him sit.
"The biggest thing was we were able to attack and knock down some shots."
In the first half, HHS made eight shots from the floor, and four free throws. In the final two quarters the Indians made eight field goals (including six 3-pointers) and two free throws.
HHS led 35-30 after the third quarter was completed, with Hogsett knocking down two 3-pointers and Ames connecting from beyond the arc while balancing himself on one foot.
Davis ended the night talking about his five seniors, including Eli Hogsett, Aric Carroll, Daniel Hicks, Caleb Wilson and Dow Kiefer.
"They are a hard working group and very dedicated," Davis said. "They were the core and foundation for the past four years, and we will miss their leadership. They are great role models."
HHS wraps up the season at 14-8 overall, co-SCOL champions. HHS won their first sectional game over McClain on Tuesday at SEHS.
Waverly will play in the district tournament on Friday, March 4 at the Convocation Center, in Athens, on the campus of Ohio University at 8 p.m.
GAME NOTES: This is the second year HHS lost in the sectional finals … Waverly was 14-of-16 from the free-throw line … WHS outscored HHS in the second half, 37-24 … HHS was 6-of-7 from the free-throw line … The Indians made nine 3-pointers … HHS made six 3-pointers in the second half, while Waverly made two … The Tigers had 12 total fouls (four in second half), while the Indians tallied four first-half fouls and 10 second-half fouls.[[In-content Ad]]
For the second straight year, the Indians have been knocked out of the sectional final round.
The Indians were leading by three points with 5:20 remaining in the fourth, until back-to-back technical fouls called on Aric Carroll, who slightly bounced (and caught) the basketball at his waist (not saying a word), followed by, in the same sequence of events, HHS head coach Tim Davis getting called with the second technical foul as the official was telling him the explanation of the call.
Hillsboro went on to lose their lead, and the game, by a score of 55-47, as Waverly knocked out both SCOL champions, the other Miami Trace, in the sectional round.
The game had just one lead change and was tied four times.
Davis talked about the sequence of events involving the technical fouls following the game.
"I told him (the official) 'That was a weak one,'" Davis said. "I knew that Aric Carroll did not say anything profane. I know Aric Carroll … I've been around Aric for four years, and I know that Aric wasn't going to say anything to deserve a technical foul in that situation. When he (the official) came to me, I said that was a weak one, and then he T'd me up.
"That was the momentum shift Waverly needed, giving them the momentum in the fourth quarter. We had our chances, but we weren't able to execute. We had some turnovers in the paint, late in the fourth quarter."
Following the technical fouls, Waverly standout Jake Kretzer, a junior who stands at 6-6, made 3-of-4 free throws, tying the game at 38. Kretzer finished with a game-high 27 points, making three 3-pointers and going 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. He made all eight free throws in the fourth quarter. During the game, Kretzer scored his 1,000th career point.
Kretzer put the Tigers (11-11) in the lead with a 3-pointer near the 5:00 mark, since Waverly regained possession of the ball after the technical fouls.
Hillsboro's Chase Gilliland put the game back at even, matching the 3-pointer of Waverly, tying the game at 41 with 4:21 left in the fourth.
The momentum went back to Waverly following an 8-3 run, along with a couple HHS turnovers for a 49-44 lead with 55.8 left in regulation.
The Indians (14-8) regained possession of the basketball, missing a 3-point attempt, followed with two free throws by the Tigers' Jean Paul White for a 51-44 Tiger advantage.
Gilliland sank his fourth 3-pointer of the game with 34.5 left in the quarter, bringing the Tribe within four points of the Tigers' lead.
HHS couldn't produce offensively following a timeout, missing a 3-pointer, along with the ensuing put-back chance, forcing them to foul, as the Tigers made their final four free throws en route to the sectional title.
"Down the stretch, in the fourth quarter, their height got the best of us. They did a good job of going four-around-one, and we were faced to guard Kretzer, which took the help side away," Davis said. "(Harrison) Martin was able to get a couple of ones, and they were able to get a couple baskets down the stretch and we weren't."
The Indians were led by Gilliland with 12 points, followed by Devante Ames and Eli Hogsett with nine points each. Jarrod Hart scored eight total points (all in the opening quarter) in the balanced scoring effort by the Indians. Carroll finished with six, and Tyrand Cumberland scored three points.
"We fought hard, and I am extremely proud of the way our kids played tonight and for the entire season," Davis said. "And tonight we just came up a little short."
The overflow of emotion wasn't present in the first quarter, as the Indians played with "Hart," so to speak.
Hart, a HHS sophomore, scored the Indians' first eight points, keeping them in the game when things were sketchy offensively for both teams in the first 8:00 of sectional tournament play.
Unofficially, the Tigers missed their first six shots, as Hart took advantage, scoring on a put-back basket, a layup (with the assist from Hogsett) another layup, and a steal of an inbounds pass followed by two points under the hoop, for an 8-6 HHS lead with 21.9 left in the frame.
Ames scored the final two points of the first when he bounced the ball off a Waverly defender, gaining possession and making two easy points off an inbounds play as the buzzer sounded.
With HHS leading 10-6 at the beginning of the second frame, they added to their lead for a 23-13 advantage at halftime.
The second quarter belonged to Gilliland, who made two 3-pointers, one to put HHS up 13-8 and the second one to make the score 21-13. At the 5:40 mark of the second, Carroll sank a 3-ball.
"The game plan was to spread them out and attack the basket. I thought we did that extremely well in the first half," Davis said. "We were just unable to execute in the paint in the second half. We were still getting some attack (in the second half), that we wanted, but we just couldn't execute."
Davis talked about the Indians' defense in the first half, as they held Waverly to 13 points. One big element was Harrison sat most of the first half, gaining two fouls with 5:12 left in the first frame.
"We knew we would have to ball pressure and have good help side, and we did a good job of controlling Kretzer," Davis said. "The game plan was to make them guard us and we made Harrison pick up two fouls in the first quarter, which made him sit.
"The biggest thing was we were able to attack and knock down some shots."
In the first half, HHS made eight shots from the floor, and four free throws. In the final two quarters the Indians made eight field goals (including six 3-pointers) and two free throws.
HHS led 35-30 after the third quarter was completed, with Hogsett knocking down two 3-pointers and Ames connecting from beyond the arc while balancing himself on one foot.
Davis ended the night talking about his five seniors, including Eli Hogsett, Aric Carroll, Daniel Hicks, Caleb Wilson and Dow Kiefer.
"They are a hard working group and very dedicated," Davis said. "They were the core and foundation for the past four years, and we will miss their leadership. They are great role models."
HHS wraps up the season at 14-8 overall, co-SCOL champions. HHS won their first sectional game over McClain on Tuesday at SEHS.
Waverly will play in the district tournament on Friday, March 4 at the Convocation Center, in Athens, on the campus of Ohio University at 8 p.m.
GAME NOTES: This is the second year HHS lost in the sectional finals … Waverly was 14-of-16 from the free-throw line … WHS outscored HHS in the second half, 37-24 … HHS was 6-of-7 from the free-throw line … The Indians made nine 3-pointers … HHS made six 3-pointers in the second half, while Waverly made two … The Tigers had 12 total fouls (four in second half), while the Indians tallied four first-half fouls and 10 second-half fouls.[[In-content Ad]]