Wednesday, February 28, 2001
Hamilton survives scare from Hughes
Big Blue plays Moeller next
By Ryan Waldheger
The Cincinnati Enquirer
OXFORD — Sometimes surviving an early scare leads to inspired play and a lengthy tournament run. That's what Hamilton coach Larry Allen must be hoping after watching his team struggle to put away Hughes 42-40 on Tuesday in a Division I sectional semifinal game at Millett Hall.
“We definitely weren't on our best game tonight,” Allen said. “We allowed ourselves to relax sometimes at the end.”
Hamilton's Jon Smith hit a pair of free throws with 18 seconds remaining, snapping an 11-1 Hughes run in the game's final five minutes.
After a series of timeouts, Hughes had one last possession, but a 3-point shot and a putback both failed.
“We were gonna go for the win,” Hughes coach Mark Brackman said. “We did have a good look.”
Hamilton's domination of the boards kept the Big Blue ahead for much of the contest. Hamilton finished with a 39-17 advantage in that category.
“We were lucky to stay as close as we did, with how bad we rebounded and shot foul shots,” Brackman said.
Smith and Tyrell Williams each pulled in 11 rebounds and finished with 15 and 11 points, respectively, for Hamilton.
The Big Blue, ranked ninth in the Enquirer's coaches poll, improved to 17-5 and face No. 3 Moeller at 8:30 p.m. Friday in the final.
HUGHES (40) — Foster 1 0 2, Whithead 4 3 11, Hargrove 2 0 4, Pickard 0 1 1, Williams 1 1 3, Holmes 1 0 2, Salaam 1 2 5, Solomon 3 0 6, Vails 3 0 6. Totals: 16 7 40.
HAMILTON (42) — Jackson 0 2 2, Smith 6 3 15, Rusbosin 2 0 5, Williams 4 3 11, Couch 2 0 4, Ballinger 2 1 5. Totals: 16 9 42.
Hughes ....... 10 6 13 11—40
Hamilton ....... 11 7 17 7—42
3-pointers: Hu. — Salaam. Ha. — Rusbosin. Records: Hu. 9-12, Ha. 17-5.
• Moeller 75, Milford 52, Division I at Millett Hall — Matt Sylvester scored 13 of his game-high 29 points in the second quarter to help the second-seeded Crusaders break open the game.
Moeller hit all seven of its 3-pointers in the first half.
Jon Halter led the Eagles with 15 points.
MOELLER (75)— Tabler 3 0 7, Mahoney 1 0 2, Monserez 6 3 17, Wood 1 2 5, Reisert 1 0 2, Nagel 3 1 7, Schwertman 2 0 4, Sylvester 12 2 29, McGlone 1 0 2. Totals: 30 8 75.
MILFORD (52) — Meranda 1 0 2, Skidmore 2 0 6, Robertson 0 1 1, Connor 1 0 2, Bradley 2 2 6, Halter 6 2 15, Bode 1 0 2, Huesman 3 0 6, Stries 6 0 12. Totals: 22 5 52.
Moeller ....... 21 20 23 11—75
Milford ....... 19 6 13 14—52
3-pointers: Mo. — Sylvester 3, Monserez 2, Wood, Tabler. Mi. — Skidmore 2, Halter. Records: Mo. 17-4, Mi. 8-14.
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