Indians soar to 2nd straight SCOL title
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
HILLSBORO — Sharing wasn't in the vocabulary of the Hillsboro Indians Friday night, and for one night only, that was OK.
For the second consecutive year, the Indians are South Central Ohio League boys basketball champions; this time, though, they are all alone at the top of the mountain, defeating the Clinton-Massie Falcons 62-57 to win the outright league crown.
The win gives the Indians a 10-2 league mark, with a final regular-season record of 15-5.
Last season, the Indians shared the league title with Miami Trace … not this year.
In poker terms, it can be said Hillsboro head coach Brett Prince, in his first season at the helm of the Tribe, was dealt a royal flush, as his team never trailed the entire game.
"I'm thrilled to death," Prince said. "I said from the beginning, our goal was always to win the league. Any coach who comes in here and gets to inherit that group of kids that I got to inherit … I just played the hand I was dealt, and it was a pretty good hand.
"The kids bought in, played hard and they got it done. It's a tribute to them … accepting coaching, the way they play, and I couldn't be happier. We have a lot of great kids."
The loss leaves Clinton-Massie at 8-4 in league play, as they finished in second place.
CM made the game interesting in the second half, as they trailed by as many as 21 points on two separate occasions in the third quarter. They quietly chipped away at the lead of the Indians, making it an eight-point game by the time the third frame was completed at 41-33.
In the fourth, CM got as close as five points with 6:17 left in regulation, but that's when the Indians decided to get the "killer instinct" they've been looking for, building a 13-point lead with 1:12 left in the fourth and holding a lead between 11 to five points until final buzzer.
"I said from the beginning of the week, our goal is to win by one point, and that's all it takes. We definitely made it interesting … we wanted to keep the fans entertained," Prince said jokingly. "Really, it just shows senior leadership and a great effort from a junior in Jarrod Hart.
"I felt Jarrod took over the game for about three or four minutes in the fourth. He got to the rim and made some tough shots. A couple of those (I held my breath) and said 'yes!' He just took over the game on the offensive end in the fourth."
HHS was led in scoring by Hart with a game-high 20 points, including nine points in the fourth. Dévante Ames followed with 16 points, as did fellow senior Táron Captain, who scored 16 points.
In the fourth frame, Captain opened up the lead to 10 points with a layup 58 seconds into the quarter. The Falcons answered with five straight points, but that's when the Indians gained a little extra "Hart," with a layup by the junior, putting HHS ahead 45-38, with 5:58 left on the clock.
Hart then caused a CM turnover, and at the 4:50 mark, Ames sank a fadeaway jumper for a nine-point HHS advantage. Hart followed with a put-back basket, and again (this time following a CM bucket), he swished a jump shot with 3:20 on the clock for a HHS lead of 51-40.
The Indians eventually built an 11-point advantage with a layup by Captain. After exchanging a couple baskets, Ames sank two free throws, but the Falcons wouldn't go away with a 3-pointer from Tyler Uetrecht with 56.3 left in regulation, cutting the HHS lead to 10 points.
For the remainder of the game, the teams exchanged baskets, but HHS didn't let CM any closer than within five points of tying the game before the buzzer sounded.
The Falcons were led in scoring by Brad Burgess with 18 points. Uetrecht followed with 17 points, including two 3-pointers.
As for the first half, the Indians dominated the first quarter, leading 18-8, starting the game with alley-oop style points, as Chase Gilliland lobbed the ball to a flying Ames, who threw the ball in the hoop for two points. Gilliland followed with a 3-pointer for a 5-0 first-quarter lead.
[[In-content Ad]]"Clinton-Massie came out and attacked us with a 2-3 zone, and we have some stuff we like to attack a 2-3 with," Prince said. "I think it's been pretty successful all year, and we built up a nice lead by getting to the rim.
"We were getting to the rim with their zone, and that's what we teach. Then they went to a 1-3-1 at some point in the second quarter and slowed the pace of the game down. It slowed us down and kept them in the game in the first half."
From there, HHS saw opening-quarter scoring from Tyrand Cumberland, Hart and Captain.
In the second, HHS outscored the Falcons 12-10 for a halftime lead of 30-18. In the second, HHS led by as many as 13 points, with scoring from Ames (who was 4-of-4 from the free-throw line in the quarter), Hart and Captain.
"Our defense intensity in the first half was outstanding," Prince said. "Our pressure was bothering them, and we had the game going in the tempo we like. Things were going our direction in the first half … I was thrilled with how we played defense in the first half."
The Indians struggled for a bit in the third, being outscored 15-11. In the third, Ames sank a 3-pointer, along with points by Hart and Captain.
Prince spoke about the entire atmosphere on Friday, including the student section.
"When the game starts, the students are bouncing up and down, the gym is rocking, the band is playing … high school athletics don't get any better than that," he said. "That's why I coach … this atmosphere was just amazing.
"When our student section comes out, they are absolutely as good as anybody … not just in our league, but in the state. They get rockin' and rollin' over there, and our kids feed off that. Our home side was packed, and it was good we could get this win for our community and the kids in our school. It's really big, and I hope the community is proud of the effort these kids gave for 20 games."
Now it is on to the tournament, where the Indians are a No. 5 seed in the Division II sectional bracket at Southeastern High School. HHS will face No. 4 seed Fairland on Friday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m.
In JV play, CM defeated HHS 48-45. HHS was led by Reese Leibreich with 17 points. In the freshman game, HHS defeated CM, 33-27. Leading HHS were Logan Lesley and Austin Bagshaw with eight points each.
BOX SCORE
SCORE BY QUARTERS
CM 08 10 15 24 — 57
HHS 18 12 11 21 — 62
INDIVIDUAL STATS
HHS (62)
Tyr.Cumberland 3 (0) 1-2 7
D.Ames 3 (1) 7-8 16
J.Hart 7 (0) 6-8 20
C.Gilliland 0 (1) 0-0 3
T.Captain 7 (0) 2-3 16
TOTALS: 20 (2) 16-21 62
For the second consecutive year, the Indians are South Central Ohio League boys basketball champions; this time, though, they are all alone at the top of the mountain, defeating the Clinton-Massie Falcons 62-57 to win the outright league crown.
The win gives the Indians a 10-2 league mark, with a final regular-season record of 15-5.
Last season, the Indians shared the league title with Miami Trace … not this year.
In poker terms, it can be said Hillsboro head coach Brett Prince, in his first season at the helm of the Tribe, was dealt a royal flush, as his team never trailed the entire game.
"I'm thrilled to death," Prince said. "I said from the beginning, our goal was always to win the league. Any coach who comes in here and gets to inherit that group of kids that I got to inherit … I just played the hand I was dealt, and it was a pretty good hand.
"The kids bought in, played hard and they got it done. It's a tribute to them … accepting coaching, the way they play, and I couldn't be happier. We have a lot of great kids."
The loss leaves Clinton-Massie at 8-4 in league play, as they finished in second place.
CM made the game interesting in the second half, as they trailed by as many as 21 points on two separate occasions in the third quarter. They quietly chipped away at the lead of the Indians, making it an eight-point game by the time the third frame was completed at 41-33.
In the fourth, CM got as close as five points with 6:17 left in regulation, but that's when the Indians decided to get the "killer instinct" they've been looking for, building a 13-point lead with 1:12 left in the fourth and holding a lead between 11 to five points until final buzzer.
"I said from the beginning of the week, our goal is to win by one point, and that's all it takes. We definitely made it interesting … we wanted to keep the fans entertained," Prince said jokingly. "Really, it just shows senior leadership and a great effort from a junior in Jarrod Hart.
"I felt Jarrod took over the game for about three or four minutes in the fourth. He got to the rim and made some tough shots. A couple of those (I held my breath) and said 'yes!' He just took over the game on the offensive end in the fourth."
HHS was led in scoring by Hart with a game-high 20 points, including nine points in the fourth. Dévante Ames followed with 16 points, as did fellow senior Táron Captain, who scored 16 points.
In the fourth frame, Captain opened up the lead to 10 points with a layup 58 seconds into the quarter. The Falcons answered with five straight points, but that's when the Indians gained a little extra "Hart," with a layup by the junior, putting HHS ahead 45-38, with 5:58 left on the clock.
Hart then caused a CM turnover, and at the 4:50 mark, Ames sank a fadeaway jumper for a nine-point HHS advantage. Hart followed with a put-back basket, and again (this time following a CM bucket), he swished a jump shot with 3:20 on the clock for a HHS lead of 51-40.
The Indians eventually built an 11-point advantage with a layup by Captain. After exchanging a couple baskets, Ames sank two free throws, but the Falcons wouldn't go away with a 3-pointer from Tyler Uetrecht with 56.3 left in regulation, cutting the HHS lead to 10 points.
For the remainder of the game, the teams exchanged baskets, but HHS didn't let CM any closer than within five points of tying the game before the buzzer sounded.
The Falcons were led in scoring by Brad Burgess with 18 points. Uetrecht followed with 17 points, including two 3-pointers.
As for the first half, the Indians dominated the first quarter, leading 18-8, starting the game with alley-oop style points, as Chase Gilliland lobbed the ball to a flying Ames, who threw the ball in the hoop for two points. Gilliland followed with a 3-pointer for a 5-0 first-quarter lead.
[[In-content Ad]]"Clinton-Massie came out and attacked us with a 2-3 zone, and we have some stuff we like to attack a 2-3 with," Prince said. "I think it's been pretty successful all year, and we built up a nice lead by getting to the rim.
"We were getting to the rim with their zone, and that's what we teach. Then they went to a 1-3-1 at some point in the second quarter and slowed the pace of the game down. It slowed us down and kept them in the game in the first half."
From there, HHS saw opening-quarter scoring from Tyrand Cumberland, Hart and Captain.
In the second, HHS outscored the Falcons 12-10 for a halftime lead of 30-18. In the second, HHS led by as many as 13 points, with scoring from Ames (who was 4-of-4 from the free-throw line in the quarter), Hart and Captain.
"Our defense intensity in the first half was outstanding," Prince said. "Our pressure was bothering them, and we had the game going in the tempo we like. Things were going our direction in the first half … I was thrilled with how we played defense in the first half."
The Indians struggled for a bit in the third, being outscored 15-11. In the third, Ames sank a 3-pointer, along with points by Hart and Captain.
Prince spoke about the entire atmosphere on Friday, including the student section.
"When the game starts, the students are bouncing up and down, the gym is rocking, the band is playing … high school athletics don't get any better than that," he said. "That's why I coach … this atmosphere was just amazing.
"When our student section comes out, they are absolutely as good as anybody … not just in our league, but in the state. They get rockin' and rollin' over there, and our kids feed off that. Our home side was packed, and it was good we could get this win for our community and the kids in our school. It's really big, and I hope the community is proud of the effort these kids gave for 20 games."
Now it is on to the tournament, where the Indians are a No. 5 seed in the Division II sectional bracket at Southeastern High School. HHS will face No. 4 seed Fairland on Friday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m.
In JV play, CM defeated HHS 48-45. HHS was led by Reese Leibreich with 17 points. In the freshman game, HHS defeated CM, 33-27. Leading HHS were Logan Lesley and Austin Bagshaw with eight points each.
BOX SCORE
SCORE BY QUARTERS
CM 08 10 15 24 — 57
HHS 18 12 11 21 — 62
INDIVIDUAL STATS
HHS (62)
Tyr.Cumberland 3 (0) 1-2 7
D.Ames 3 (1) 7-8 16
J.Hart 7 (0) 6-8 20
C.Gilliland 0 (1) 0-0 3
T.Captain 7 (0) 2-3 16
TOTALS: 20 (2) 16-21 62