Hamilton Heights saw its season come to an end on Saturday, as the Huskies lost a tough Class 3A Sectional 24 championship game to host New Castle 51-49.
The Trojans led 11-7 after the first quarter. Heights came back to tie the game at 23-23 by halftime. Noah Linville and Tillman Etchison both hit two 3-pointers during the second quarter. But New Castle jumped ahead again in the third period, leading 38-32 by the end of the quarter.
“New Castle played great defense,” said Heights coach Chad Ballenger. “We’ve been averaging about 70 points a game, and that’s the difference. We couldn’t find a way to score. Had kids in foul trouble. That’s tournament basketball.”
The Huskies battled throughout the fourth, getting within one point several times during the final two minutes of the game, but the Trojans were able to hold on for the win.
“We had a chance at the end, and that’s what you always ask,” said Ballenger.
Gus Etchison scored 15 points and pulled seven rebounds for Heights. The Western Michigan commit finished his sensational career with 2,076 points, becoming only the third Hamilton County player to reach the 2,000-point milestone.
Isaac Tuma added eight points, while Linville and Isaac Wilson both scored seven points. The Huskies finished their season 17-5.
NEW CASTLE 51, HAMILTON HEIGHTS 49
Heights FG FT TP PF
Gus Etchison 4-13 6-9 15 4
Noah Linville 2-5 1-2 7 2
Luke Carroll 2-2 2-4 6 4
Isaac Wilson 2-6 2-2 7 4
Lucas Letsinger 0-1 0-0 0 3
Isaac Tuma 4-6 0-1 8 0
Tillman Etchison 2-5 0-0 6 1
Totals 16-38 11-18 49 18
Score by Quarters
New Castle 11 12 15 13 – 51
Heights 7 16 9 17 – 49
Heights 3-point shooting (6-21) T. Etchison 2-5, Linville 2-4, G. Etchison 1-8, Wilson 1-4.
Heights rebounds (22) G. Etchison 7, Carroll 4, Letsinger 3, T. Etchison 3, Wilson 2, Tuma 2, Linville 1.