Indians torched by Dragons in sectional final
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
CHILLICOTHE — For one quarter, the Hillsboro Indians played even with the Fairland Dragons. For the following three quarters, not much went the way of the Tribe, as shots wouldn't fall their way, rebounds were grabbed by their opponent, and they just couldn't perfect their overall game plan.
In the end, the Dragons were too much for Hillsboro, as the Indians had their season ended in the Division II SE Sectional Final, 64-44 at Southeastern High School, Friday night.
The loss finishes the Indians' season at 15-6 overall, as they went 10-2 in the South Central Ohio League on their way to their second consecutive league championship.
"I told the kids in the locker room … one game doesn't define a team. One game doesn't define a season, and one game doesn't define you as a player," Hillsboro head coach Brett Prince said. "Just because we didn't get it done (Friday) doesn't mean we didn't have a good season because we had a good season.
"We just didn't play very well (Friday), and sometimes that happens. We had a great season. I'm proud of the seven seniors for all they did for the program, and right now they are pretty heartbroken."
[[In-content Ad]]After celebrating one week ago, hardly anything went the way of No. 5 seeded HHS, who was the away team, following the opening eight minutes. After the first quarter, No. 4 seeded Dragons (16-5) and the Indians were tied at 15.
"Offensively, we executed at times in the first quarter. We were playing right with them, playing back-and-forth, and we were limiting (Evan) Salyers," Prince said. "He was being limited, because we were helping on him so much, but that allowed their guards to get some early looks … and they made them.
"We have kids in our scouting reports, where we said 'make them beat us from the perimeter, and beat us with their jump shots' … and they did. So we had to allow Salyers one-on-one time in the post, and that led to his strong second half."
Following the 15-point first frame, the Indians were outscored 49-29 in the ensuing three quarters, for the 20-point loss. In the second, HHS was outscored 15-10, in the third 18-8 and in the final eight minutes, 16-11.
In the first frame, where the score was tied three different times, the Indians tied it at two with points from a steal and layup by senior Christian Cundiff. HHS took the lead with a layup by junior Jarrod Hart.
The Indians, who led just once the entire first quarter, cut the Dragons' lead to 7-6 with a jumper by senior Tyrand Cumberland. Again, the Dragons scored quick points, increasing their lead to 10-6.
Sixth man Dévante Ames, a senior, came off the bench, sparking the Indians offensively by converting two free throws with 3:17 left in the first. He followed those shots with a layup at the 2:12 mark, tying the game at 10.
After a 3-pointer by the Dragons, Ames again, put the Indians on his shoulders, making a jumper, while ending the first quarter with a 3-pointer, tying the score at 15.
Ames, who led the Tribe with 17 points, opened the second with a 3-pointer, giving HHS a 18-15 lead. Later, with the score tied at 18, Cumberland sank two free throws, putting the Indians ahead, 20-18.
That would be the last time the Indians led the game, as the score was tied at 20 and again at 22, off a layup by senior Tyia Cumberland with 5:09 left in the first half.
After those points … the game changed with Fairland's Evan Salyers getting some space, after being held scoreless for over 14 minutes. The 6-5 senior took over the game, scoring four points in the second, while finishing the game with a game-high 20 points. Add that with points by teammates Eric Riley and Nathan Campbell, the Dragons took a 31-22 lead with 1:12 left in the first half.
The Indians ended the first half with a 20-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer by Tyrand Cumberland.
Then came reality … as the Indians lost the third frame by 10 points, trailing 49-33 once the third quarter was completed.
"They got us down, and we really had to mix-and-match our lineups. We had to go smaller, and attack them off the dribble," Prince said. "When they got us down, we started shooting quick shots … we just didn't make shots.
"We had a lot of wide-open looks that just didn't go in. We shot poorly from the perimeter, and when we do that, guys don't have to come out and guard us. They (FHS) really did a great job of taking away all of the driving lanes, allowing them to get into position to get rebounds. Then we would kick it out for a wide-open shot, and we'd miss it."
Salyers, showed why he's one of the better players in the district, scoring 11 points in the third, and five more in the fourth. He also added 14 rebounds, two assists, one steal and unofficially five blocked shots.
Scoring for HHS in the third was Tyrand Cumberland, Cundiff, Tyia Cumberland and Chase Gilliland.
Unable to take a significant chunk out of the Fairland advantage, the Indians scored 11 points in their final quarter of the season. Scoring those points were Tyrand Cumberland, Ames, Hart and Gilliland. Cumberland finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Hart, Gilliland and Cundiff each finished with four points. Hart added five rebounds. Tyia Cumberland finished with three points.
For the Dragons, they had two more players reach double figures with Cody Midkiff finishing with 14 points, and Evan Maddox with 13 points. Midkiff added six rebounds. Maddox tallied six boards, along with three assists.
Seniors playing their final game for the Indians were: Tyrand Cumberland, Dévante Ames, Trevor Gleadle, Chase Gilliland, Tyia Cumberland, Táron Captain and Christian Cundiff.
The Dragons will move onto the district semifinal on Thursday, March 1 at Ohio University.
GAME NOTES: HHS totaled four assists, 21 rebounds and two steals … From the field (two pointers), HHS was 11-of-36 (31 percent) and 4-of-14 from behind the arc (29 percent).
BOX SCORE
SCORE BY QUARTERS
HHS 15 10 08 11 — 44
FHS 15 16 18 15 — 64
INDIVIDUAL STATS
FHS (64)
C.Midkiff 5 (1) 1-1 14
E.Riley 1 (0) 0-0 2
E.Maddox 2 (3) 3-8 13
B.Fuller 4 (0) 1-3 9
N.Campbell 1 (1) 1-4 6
E.Salyers 9 (0) 2-4 20
TOTALS: 22 (4) 8-22 64
HHS (44)
Tyr.Cumberland 3 (1) 2-2 11
D.Ames 2 (3) 4-4 17
J.Hart 2 (0) 0-0 4
C.Gilliland 1 (0) 2-5 4
T.Captain 0 (0) 1-2 1
C.Cundiff 2 (0) 0-0 4
Tyi.Cumberland 1 (0) 1-2 3
TOTALS: 11 (4) 10-15 44
In the end, the Dragons were too much for Hillsboro, as the Indians had their season ended in the Division II SE Sectional Final, 64-44 at Southeastern High School, Friday night.
The loss finishes the Indians' season at 15-6 overall, as they went 10-2 in the South Central Ohio League on their way to their second consecutive league championship.
"I told the kids in the locker room … one game doesn't define a team. One game doesn't define a season, and one game doesn't define you as a player," Hillsboro head coach Brett Prince said. "Just because we didn't get it done (Friday) doesn't mean we didn't have a good season because we had a good season.
"We just didn't play very well (Friday), and sometimes that happens. We had a great season. I'm proud of the seven seniors for all they did for the program, and right now they are pretty heartbroken."
[[In-content Ad]]After celebrating one week ago, hardly anything went the way of No. 5 seeded HHS, who was the away team, following the opening eight minutes. After the first quarter, No. 4 seeded Dragons (16-5) and the Indians were tied at 15.
"Offensively, we executed at times in the first quarter. We were playing right with them, playing back-and-forth, and we were limiting (Evan) Salyers," Prince said. "He was being limited, because we were helping on him so much, but that allowed their guards to get some early looks … and they made them.
"We have kids in our scouting reports, where we said 'make them beat us from the perimeter, and beat us with their jump shots' … and they did. So we had to allow Salyers one-on-one time in the post, and that led to his strong second half."
Following the 15-point first frame, the Indians were outscored 49-29 in the ensuing three quarters, for the 20-point loss. In the second, HHS was outscored 15-10, in the third 18-8 and in the final eight minutes, 16-11.
In the first frame, where the score was tied three different times, the Indians tied it at two with points from a steal and layup by senior Christian Cundiff. HHS took the lead with a layup by junior Jarrod Hart.
The Indians, who led just once the entire first quarter, cut the Dragons' lead to 7-6 with a jumper by senior Tyrand Cumberland. Again, the Dragons scored quick points, increasing their lead to 10-6.
Sixth man Dévante Ames, a senior, came off the bench, sparking the Indians offensively by converting two free throws with 3:17 left in the first. He followed those shots with a layup at the 2:12 mark, tying the game at 10.
After a 3-pointer by the Dragons, Ames again, put the Indians on his shoulders, making a jumper, while ending the first quarter with a 3-pointer, tying the score at 15.
Ames, who led the Tribe with 17 points, opened the second with a 3-pointer, giving HHS a 18-15 lead. Later, with the score tied at 18, Cumberland sank two free throws, putting the Indians ahead, 20-18.
That would be the last time the Indians led the game, as the score was tied at 20 and again at 22, off a layup by senior Tyia Cumberland with 5:09 left in the first half.
After those points … the game changed with Fairland's Evan Salyers getting some space, after being held scoreless for over 14 minutes. The 6-5 senior took over the game, scoring four points in the second, while finishing the game with a game-high 20 points. Add that with points by teammates Eric Riley and Nathan Campbell, the Dragons took a 31-22 lead with 1:12 left in the first half.
The Indians ended the first half with a 20-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer by Tyrand Cumberland.
Then came reality … as the Indians lost the third frame by 10 points, trailing 49-33 once the third quarter was completed.
"They got us down, and we really had to mix-and-match our lineups. We had to go smaller, and attack them off the dribble," Prince said. "When they got us down, we started shooting quick shots … we just didn't make shots.
"We had a lot of wide-open looks that just didn't go in. We shot poorly from the perimeter, and when we do that, guys don't have to come out and guard us. They (FHS) really did a great job of taking away all of the driving lanes, allowing them to get into position to get rebounds. Then we would kick it out for a wide-open shot, and we'd miss it."
Salyers, showed why he's one of the better players in the district, scoring 11 points in the third, and five more in the fourth. He also added 14 rebounds, two assists, one steal and unofficially five blocked shots.
Scoring for HHS in the third was Tyrand Cumberland, Cundiff, Tyia Cumberland and Chase Gilliland.
Unable to take a significant chunk out of the Fairland advantage, the Indians scored 11 points in their final quarter of the season. Scoring those points were Tyrand Cumberland, Ames, Hart and Gilliland. Cumberland finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Hart, Gilliland and Cundiff each finished with four points. Hart added five rebounds. Tyia Cumberland finished with three points.
For the Dragons, they had two more players reach double figures with Cody Midkiff finishing with 14 points, and Evan Maddox with 13 points. Midkiff added six rebounds. Maddox tallied six boards, along with three assists.
Seniors playing their final game for the Indians were: Tyrand Cumberland, Dévante Ames, Trevor Gleadle, Chase Gilliland, Tyia Cumberland, Táron Captain and Christian Cundiff.
The Dragons will move onto the district semifinal on Thursday, March 1 at Ohio University.
GAME NOTES: HHS totaled four assists, 21 rebounds and two steals … From the field (two pointers), HHS was 11-of-36 (31 percent) and 4-of-14 from behind the arc (29 percent).
BOX SCORE
SCORE BY QUARTERS
HHS 15 10 08 11 — 44
FHS 15 16 18 15 — 64
INDIVIDUAL STATS
FHS (64)
C.Midkiff 5 (1) 1-1 14
E.Riley 1 (0) 0-0 2
E.Maddox 2 (3) 3-8 13
B.Fuller 4 (0) 1-3 9
N.Campbell 1 (1) 1-4 6
E.Salyers 9 (0) 2-4 20
TOTALS: 22 (4) 8-22 64
HHS (44)
Tyr.Cumberland 3 (1) 2-2 11
D.Ames 2 (3) 4-4 17
J.Hart 2 (0) 0-0 4
C.Gilliland 1 (0) 2-5 4
T.Captain 0 (0) 1-2 1
C.Cundiff 2 (0) 0-0 4
Tyi.Cumberland 1 (0) 1-2 3
TOTALS: 11 (4) 10-15 44