Sunday, March 12, 2000
Hamilton, once 6-10, makes regional
BY CAREY HOFFMAN
Enquirer contributor
DAYTON, Ohio — From out of obscurity, Hamilton has come roaring into the regional tournament and status as one of the final 16 Division I teams left alive in the state.
“A team of destiny. What can I say?” offered Hamilton coach Larry Allen after his team overcame a five-point deficit with 4:29 left to post a 41-38 victory over Centerville in a district title game Saturday afternoon at University of Dayton Arena. “We didn't play exactly the way we wanted to play, but we played the way we had to play to win.”
Hamilton (13-11) owned a 6-10 record at one point this season, but has since won seven of its last eight games, including sectional upsets over Winton Woods and Withrow. Centerville (18-5) became the latest victim.
Hamilton advances to meet Beavercreek Thursday at 8 p.m. at UD Arena.
“We have such a storied past dating back to the 20s and that's helped us,” said guard Josh Andrews, whose 14 points on Saturday included the game's biggest basket. “The fans in town and especially the kids in school have built us up and endured our losses.”
In a game that was close throughout, Centerville twice opened the widest margin of the game with five point leads in the final quarter. The second time came at 31-26 with 4:29 to play.
Foul trouble had forced Hamilton to abandon its man defense in the first quarter and the Big Blue coaching staff kept urging Allen to go back to it in the second half. He finally felt the situation was right.
“I never felt that five points was going to be a lot (to overcome),” Allen said, “but we couldn't allow it to be too much more.”
David Huff hit a pair of free throws for Hamilton, then Andrews hit the basket they had to have — a standstill 3-pointer with 3:02 left that cut Centerville's lead to 32-31.
“I knew we needed a big bucket there,” Andrews said. “Ryan King made a great drive and kickout. I felt good about my shooting stroke all week and I just got that one to go.”
With the game's momentum changed, Centerville came up empty on its next three possessions. Meanwhile, Huff hit a pair of foul shots to put Hamilton ahead 33-32 with 2:39 to play and Andrews added two more free throws to push the lead to three with 2:01 left.
Centerville pulled back to within one three times in the remainder of the game, but each time Hamilton answered — a breakaway dunk that nearly came out on Huff and two foul shots each by Andrews and King.
King's free throws made the margin 41-38 with 21.9 seconds left. Centerville only got one more shot, a double-clutch 3-point try by Matt Beck with three seconds left that hit the side of the rim and bounced away.
A wild Hamilton celebration ensued, capped by 6-foot-7 center Ben Sturgill running the length of the court and diving mosh pit style into the Hamilton student section.
“This is a blast. It's a great ride,” Andrews said. “We've worked hard all year and early on it wasn't going well for us but we've continued to give 100 percent.”
Huff added 11 points for Hamilton in a game that was statistically even. Neither team shot well, with Hamilton at .324 and Centerville at .323.
CENTERVILLE (38) — Beck -8 2-2 5, Davies 4-14 5-6 13, Rhoda 3-7 6-7 12, Bai ly 1-1 2-3 4, Marshall 1-1 2-2 4. Totals: 10-31 17-20 38.
HAMILTON (41) — Andrews 4-10 4-4 14, King 1-1 2-2 5, Rosbosin 0-4 1-2 1, Huff 3-10 4-5 11, Sturgill 3-4 0-6 6, Ballinger 1-8 2-2 4. Totals: 12-37 13-21 41.
Centerville ....... 9 8 8 13-38
Hamilton ....... 10 9 3 19-41
3-pointers: H 4-12 (Andrews 2, King, Huff). C 1-8 (Beck). Rebounds: H 25 (Sturgill 8). C 28 (Davies 7). Assists: H 7 (Ballinger 4). C 5 (Beck 2, Davies 2). Turnovers: H8, C 14. Steals: H 3, C 3. Officials: Lee Barlow, Wendell Burbridge, Terry Middleton. Attendance: 3,000.
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