By Mike McGraw
Executive Director
SHARPSVILLE – Indiana University-bound Austin Etherington poured in 35 points Dec. 12 to lead Hamilton Heights to a deceptive 73-62 victory at Tri-Central.
The final score is deceptive because this was a game the Huskies nearly lost. Anytime a team travels into the madhouse atmosphere at Tri-Central, they know they are in for a 32-minute battle.
That is a time-tested truth that Hamilton Heights forgot, and it very nearly cost the Huskies their third victory in five games.
The first quarter saw a fired-up Trojan squad control play early, twice holding leads late in the period. But a six-point run at the end of the stanza gave Hamilton Heights a five-point lead at the break.
The Huskies quickly added to that in the early minutes of the second quarter, eventually holding double-figure leads through most of the period. They went to intermission with a 40-29 advantage, seemingly in control.
That control grew to an apparent stranglehold in the opening minutes of the second half. Hamilton Heights scored the first six points of the half to lead 46-29. Most in attendance believed the outcome was virtually decided and, unfortunately, the Huskies were among them.
Careless play on the offensive end began to stymie the Huskie attack, and it wasn’t long before Tri-Central (1-4) began to take advantage. The Trojans went on a 26-7 run spanning the next eight minutes, and suddenly Heights found itself trailing 55-53 with a little over six minutes to play.
Etherington and strong foul shooting came to the rescue, however, and Hamilton Heights scored the next seven points to regain control and re-establish a defensive presence that had faded through most of the second half. The 73-62 final tally represented more of an escape than a convincing victory.
Seth Small joined Etherington in double figures with 21 points for the Huskies, while Tri-Central was led by the 17 points of both Brock Tew and Robby Howell. Those leading scorers are both juniors, so brighter days are ahead for the storied Tri-Central program.
The box score:
Hamilton Heights 24 16 11 22 – 73
Tri-Central 15 14 21 12 – 62
Hamilton Heights: Etherington 35, Small 21, Sauerteig 8, Bowen 7, Bolden 2. 3-pointers: Small, Bowen, Etherington. Totals: 26 18-25 73
Tri-Central: Howell 17, Tew 17, Delong 13, Robertson 7, King 5, Adair 3. 3-pointers: Howell, Tew, Robertson, Adair. Totals: 20 18-22 62
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