By RICHIE HALL
SHERIDAN – Friday, Jan. 30 was a big night for Sheridan.
The Blackhawks welcomed their new athletic director, Jared Green. Sheridan conducted its Hardwood Homecoming, with Ji Warren named Queen and Devon Hamilton named King.
Hamilton accepted the crown in his Blackhawks basketball uniform – he is one of the players on the team. Minutes later, he was back on the court at Larry Hobbs Hall helping Sheridan to a 59-53 comeback win over Taylor.
With the victory, the Blackhawks improved to 7-0 in Hoosier Heartland Conference play and have won at least a share of the HHC championship. Sheridan’s only conference game left is a Feb. 13 home date with Carroll; the Cougars are 3-1 in the HHC with four league games remaining.
“This was an emphasis all week,” said Hawks coach Bill Bowen. “We knew this game was going to be tough.”
Sheridan led 20-12 after one quarter, with Jax Peerman contributing seven of those points. The Titans blasted back in the second period, outscoring the Blackhawks 25-11 to take a 37-31 halftime lead.
Sheridan worked its way back into the game in the third quarter, cutting Taylor’s advantage to 48-46 by the end of the period. Five different Blackhawks players scored points in that quarter, showing Sheridan’s balance.
“We’ve had three guys in double figures and two more guys right under 10 points,” said Bowen.
The Hawks cruised through the fourth quarter, allowing the Titans only five points. Desh Donathan made a crucial three-point play, then consecutive layins by Hamilton clinched the win.
Hamilton finished with 14 points, while Peerman and Donathan each had 13 points. Trey Page scored nine points.
Sheridan kept the momentum going on Saturday, Jan. 31, with a 90-78 win at Covenant Christian.
The teams were tied at 19-19 after one quarter. The Hawks led 39-36 at halftime, after which the Warriors poured in 30 points during the third period for a 66-64 lead.
But Sheridan once again stepped up in the fourth period. The Blackhawks outscored Covenant 26-12 in that period, scoring their most points in a game this season.
It was the first time Sheridan reached the 90-point mark since doing so twice in the 2011-12 season: The Hawks put up 94 on Clinton Central Dec. 9, 2011 and 90 on North Newton Dec. 21, 2011.
Page had an incredible game, scoring 30 points with five 3-pointers. Hamilton added 18 points and six rebounds, while Donathan scored 16 points and pulled five rebounds.
Sheridan totaled 25 assists as a team. Chance Spencer dished out eight assists, Peerman handed out seven, Donathan had four, while Page and Hamilton both dished out three.
The Hawks are 12-2 overall and play two road games this week, Thursday at Herron and Saturday afternoon at Alexandria.