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Indians prevail in OT against Tigers

Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com

     GREENFIELD – The McClain Tigers rallied in the fourth quarter, but the Hillsboro Indians put on the final touches after regulation when Hillsboro senior Airic Steagall sank a one-handed falling jumper with 33.3 remaining in overtime, as the Tribe defeated their cross county rival 55-52 Saturday night at McClain High School.

     “At the end we looked to Airic (Steagall) and put the ball into his hands,” Hillsboro head coach Tim Davis said. “He made a big shot at the end.”

     The gym at McClain High School was full of passion and intensity from both sides of the stands, especially when the No. 4 popped up on the scoreboard to start the final frame in regulation.

     McClain (4-4, 7-6) trailed 37-31 at the opening of the fourth, but that quickly changed when Lucas Polley sank a turn around jumper 15 seconds into the quarter to put the Tigers down by four points. The Indians had an answer with a 3-pointer from Aric Carroll and two free throw conversions by Steagall after he went to the line when the Tigers were charged with a technical foul.

     Polley rallied MHS with a 3-pointer with 5:57 left in the fourth, then the next few moments belonged to Logan Wise.

     Wise put the game in his hands first with a wide-open 3-pointer, followed on the ensuing HHS possession by taking a charge. Wise wasn’t finished as he netted another 3-ball with 4:50 left in the quarter to tie the game at 42, bringing the Tiger fans to their feet and sparking McClain for the remainder of the game.

     Colt Coates and Steagall put the Indians back in the lead with a free throw and a jump shot.

     The Tigers continued to rally with Kameron Mace scoring a basket and Zach Matracia taking a charge, which led to the Tigers capitalizing with a free throw from Polley to tie the game at 45 with 2:46 remaining in the fourth.

     Dylan Barreras put HHS back into the lead with inside points, but Wise was there again with his eighth point of the quarter by nailing a stand-up jumper, leaving 1:54 in regulation.

     Each team had opportunities to take the win in regulation, but neither team was able to make the game-winning bucket.

     Then it was time for overtime.

     Carroll came back with two free throws of his own, and then Emanuel Turner battled for possession of the ball, stole it and scored two points on the fast break. Carroll led all scorers with a game-high 15 points.

     “We had great team defense and late in the game we had a couple steals and that was the difference,” Davis said.

     With HHS (3-4, 7-7) trailing by one point the Indians looked to Steagall as he made what turned into the game winning bucket. For good measure Steagall sank two free throws to put HHS ahead by three points with 19.8 left in OT.  MHS had final possession, but the final three point attempt bounced off the rim.

     Steagall finished with 11 points, finishing 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. MHS was led by Wise with 11 points, followed by Mace with 10. Mace was 6 of 6 from the foul line.

     “Airic’s free throws were big for us,” Davis said. “This game was a great game. The fans were great and we are fortunate to come away with the win. I was pleased with how the kids kept their composure with the atmosphere.”

     For the game HHS shot 41 percent from the field, with MHS shooting 40 percent.

     A big difference was the performance from the free-throw line, as the Indians shot 12 of 16 and MHS finishing 11 of 22.

     This is the Tigers’ fourth overtime loss of the season.

     “We are there. There is nothing to be upset about. We do need to make better decisions at the end of the game. We need to value the ball better. We did what we wanted to do offensively and defensively.

     “I have never been prouder of this team than I have been tonight. Their kids (HHS) and our kids have lot to be proud of. Both teams played extremely hard.”

     The game was a fight from the opening tip with the Indians leading 17-9 after the first quarter. Matracia put MHS on the board first with a fast break steal and layup, but Turner was there to answer with a 3-pointer early in the quarter.

     HHS gained a 9-7 lead after Dylan Barreras broke the 7-7 tie with 2:26 left. HHS extended their lead to 15-7 with a three-point play by Turner and 3-pointer from Steagall.

     The Tigers and Indians exchanged points to start the second with Walters and Hillsboro’s Caleb Wilson taking turns scoring. With 4:15 left in the first half Eli Hogsett put the Indians ahead 21-15, then 22-17 after making a free throw with 2:40 left in the quarter.

     McClain’s Scott Balzer sank a 3-pointer with 1:40 left in the second to bring MHS within three points of the HHS lead.

     HHS compiled a six-point lead after three quarters played. Zack Mullikin gave the Tigers a one-point lead with a free-throw conversion with 3:28 left in the third. Late in the third Carroll knocked down two 3-point shots.

     The win puts the Indians at 7-7 overall, 3-4 in the SCOL. MHS falls to 7-6 overall, 4-4 in the SCOL.

     HHS will play again Tuesday as they host the Clinton-Massie Falcons. MHS will also play again Tuesday as they take on Unioto.

 

BOX SCORE
SCORE BY QUARTERS

HHS – 17 10 10 10 8 – 55

MHS – 9 14 8 16 5 – 52

 

INDIVIDUAL STATS
HHS
(55)

Coates 1 1-3 3, Turner 2 (1) 1-1 8, Hogsett 3 2-3 8, Dy.Barreras 3 6, Carroll 1 (3) 4-5 15, Steagall 2 (1) 4-4 11, Wilson 2 4. TOTALS: 15 (5) 12-16 55.

 

MHS (52)

Mace 2 6-6 10, Wise 2 (2) 1-2 11, Balzer 0 (1) 3, Polley 2 (1) 1-2 8, Gregory 1 2, Walters 3 (1) 9, Matracia 3 1-5 7, Mullikin 0 2-2 2. TOTALS: 13 (5) 11-22 52.

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