Saturday, March 04, 2000
Seven Hills wins 5th title in row
BY CAREY HOFFMAN
Enquirer contributor
Seven Hills won its fifth straight sectional title Friday night, but the Stingers didn't earn satisfaction.
“When you go out and just stick your chest out with Seven Hills on the jersey, we can't afford to do that,” said Seven Hills coach Jeff Stowers after his team held off Lockland 53-46 in a Division IV lower bracket sectional final at Loveland High School. “We have to go out with a low profile and we have to work.”
Foul trouble and assuming another sectional was a foregone conclusion almost cost Seven Hills on Friday. The Stingers held a double-digit lead for the better part of the first half before Lockland began to creep back.
In the first minute of the fourth period, the Panthers' press produced three straight steals that turned into fast-break layups. When Grayson Sugarman — one-half of Seven Hills' top-notch point guard tandem, along with Matt Drane — was called for traveling, Lockland had the ball trailing 35-33 with under six minutes left in the game.
“That's what we've done all year long,” said Lockland coach Steve Farquhar. “We work on picking people up full court all game and letting fa tigue set in in the second half.”
“That was scary,” Seven Hills senior forward Erik Crew said. “I said to myself, "This could be it.' I just knew somebody had to step up or it could be the end of my high school career.”
Crew, who had a game-high 23 points, answered his own challenge with one of his five 3-pointers in the game. A fast-break dunk by Saliou Diagne followed to bump the lead to 42-34.
Stowers' own postseason run as Seven Hills' coach could be nearing an end. He admits this is likely his last year because of family demands.
With outstanding seniors in Drane, Sugarman, Diagne and Crew on board, this may be Seven Hills best chance to get past the regional semifinals, where the last two seasons have ended.
Seven Hills (20-2) advances to a Division IV district title game on March 10 at 7:45 p.m. at University of Dayton Arena. The Stingers meet the winner of today's Cedarville-Bethel game.
LOCKLAND (46) — Daniels 2 1 5, Munlin 0 2 2, Noelcke 3 0 7, Wynn 5 2 14, Welshans 4 6 14, Biesbrook 1 0 2, Walker 1 0 2. Totals: 16 11 46.
SEVEN HILLS (53) — Drane 2 1 5, Sprafka 0 3 3, Sugarman 2 0 5, Diagne 5 1 11, Crew 6 6 23, Ellison 1 0 2, Lin 1 0 2, Derkson 0 2 2. Totals: 17 13 53.
Lockland ....... 6 9 11 20-46
Seven Hills ....... 18 9 8 18-53
3-pointers: L - Noelcke, Wynn 2; 7H - Sugarman, Crew 5. Records: L 14-9, 7H 20-2.
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