Blue Lions end Indians' season in sectional final
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
CHILLICOTHE - Unable to stop the Washington Blue Lions in the second half, the Hillsboro Indians' season came to an end Saturday night at Southeastern High School as they dropped their Division II SE District Sectional game to the Blue Lions 58-41.
The current South Central Ohio League champion Blue Lions outscored the Indians 30-22 in the final two frames, with a 19-point effort in the final eight minutes.
The game started off slow for both SCOL teams, with this being their third meeting, as the first ended with the Blue Lions leading by one point at 9-8.
Washington started off with the game's first points with Julian Wyatt scoring inside points, but nearly two minutes later the Indians tied the game at two with points from senior Dylan Barreras. Wyatt came back to push the Blue Lions ahead at 4-2, and Washington's Kyle Slone added to the Blue Lion lead to put WSHS up 6-2.
After a free throw from Hillsboro's Eli Hogsett, Blue Lion Matt Stringfield nailed a 3-pointer to put Washington up six. The six-point lead quickly was cut in half with Hillsboro junior Aric Carroll knocking down a 3-pointer. HHS senior Airic Steagall ended the scoring in the first with a jumper.
Carroll put the Tribe in the lead for the first time in the game to start the second frame as he made his second 3-ball, from the corner, to give the Indians a two-point advantage.
Washington's Casey Shaw equaled the feat on the ensuing possession. After the Blue Lions scored two points on a fastbreak, HHS senior Emanuel Turner tied the game at 14 with a 3-pointer. Again, the Blue Lions didn't trail for long as Stringfield sank a 3-ball and Slone followed with a layup on a fastbreak.
The five quick points eventually turned into an 11-0 run by the Blue Lions with Stringfield following the Slone layup with a jumper. With Washington leading 21-14, Shaw and Wyatt scored inside points as the Blue Lions dominated the boards.
With 1:42 remaining in the third HHS junior Colt Coates ended the run of the Blue Lions with a 3-pointer. Carroll followed with putback points, but the quarter ended with Slone making a 3-pointer with 30 seconds remaining.
The third opened up with Carroll making a free throw for the Tribe, followed with a layup by Coates to bring HHS within six points of tying the game with 5:21 left in the quarter.
Each team then took turns scoring with Washington extending the advantage to 11 points with back-to-back baskets from Slone (3-pointer) and Wyatt, forcing HHS to call a time out.
After the break in play, HHS scored three straight points with Barreras and Coates bringing HHS within eight points of tying the Washington lead. Slone ended the third with Slone scoring a basket with 10 seconds left in the quarter. Slone ended with the game-high in scoring at 25.
Washington added to their lead with four straight points to start the final quarter, but the quick run was stopped by Hogsett as he scored points for the Indians.
Hogsett added to the point total of the Indians with a 3-pointer near the middle stages of the fourth. Slone and Steagall exchanged free throws with 3:43 left in regulation.
Connor Johnson added to the Blue Lions' lead with four straight conversions from the free-throw line, followed with Shaw making 1 of 2 from the line. Steagall answered with a late 3-pointer with 1:44 left in the game.
Washington shot 51 percent from the field at 20 of 39. HHS was 14 of 47 for 30 percent.
Carroll led HHS with nine points, followed by Steagall and Coates with eight each. Hogsett and Barreras scored six points.
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