The REPORTER
There’s no basketball team in the state of Indiana that worked harder to win a holiday tournament this week then Hamilton Southeastern’s boys team.
The Royals played four games in two days to claim the Homestead Tournament, which finished up on Thursday. Actually, Southeastern played a little more than four games, as it needed double overtime to win a 57-56 championship over Munster.
“It was a battle, that’s for sure,” said HSE coach John Ashworth.
In a game that featured 16 lead changes and nine ties, the Royals and the Mustangs were even at 43-43 at the end of regulation. Both teams scored seven points in the first overtime.
Southeastern trailed by one point in the second OT, but got a steal. Braeden Totten was fouled, went to the free-throw line and made two free throws. Seconds later, Totten’s blocked shot with three seconds left secured the win.
“We had some guys really step up,” said Ashworth.
The coach had praise for Michael Griffith, who reached double-double status with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
“Michael Griffith had an excellent tournament,” said Ashworth. “He does a little bit of everything.”
So does Donovan Hamilton, who scored 19 points, grabbed seven rebounds and made two blocks. Ashworth said Hamilton was great in all three phases of the game, as he scored, “rebounded exceptionally well and did a good job on the defensive end, getting deflections and steals.”
Totten finished with 12 points. Nate Orr and Kam Anthony both had five rebounds, with Orr dishing out five assists.
The Royals beat the tournament host Homestead 48-38 to finish pool play earlier in the day. Southeastern led 28-14 at halftime, which allowed the Royals to weather a third-quarter run by the Spartans.
“They’re always a tough opponent that’s going to play a lower tempo,” said Ashworth. “You have to be ready to grind those games out and I thought our kids did a great job of finding a way to win close games. Winning at Homestead is always difficult, so it was a good win for us to have to knuckle down and play a closer game and a tougher game.”
Hamilton had 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists, with Totten adding 16 points.
The Royals are 7-3 and winners of their last five games. They play next Friday, Jan. 5 at Lawrence Central.
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 48, HOMESTEAD 38
Southeastern FG FT TP PF
Donovan Hamilton 7-12 3-5 17 3
Nate Orr 0-3 0-0 0 0
Braeden Totten 5-9 2-2 16 2
Michael Griffith 2-3 2-2 6 1
Kam Anthony 0-2 0-0 0 2
Maverick Young 1-3 0-1 2 2
Jack Jacobs 1-3 0-0 3 1
Callen Okerson 1-1 0-0 2 0
Deion Miles 0-1 0-0 0 0
Lucas Weemer 0-2 0-0 0 0
Kian Kelly 0-0 2-2 2 0
Totals 17-39 9-12 48 11
Score by Quarters
Southeastern 15 13 9 11 – 48
Homestead 7 7 16 8 – 38
Southeastern 3-point shooting (5-14) Totten 4-5, Jacobs 1-3, Hamilton 0-2, Orr 0-2, Young 0-2.
Southeastern rebounds (22) Hamilton 8, Griffith 3, Jacobs 2, Anthony 2, Orr 1, Young 1, Totten 1, Okerson 1, Weemer 1, team 2.
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 57, MUNSTER 56
(double overtime)
Southeastern FG FT TP PF
Donovan Hamilton 7-16 4-7 19 2
Nate Orr 1-5 0-2 2 3
Braeden Totten 2-8 7-7 12 1
Michael Griffith 6-8 2-2 14 1
Kam Anthony 3-6 1-3 7 3
Maverick Young 0-3 1-2 1 1
Jack Jacobs 1-5 0-0 2 2
Kian Kelly 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 20-51 15-23 57 13
Score by Quarters
Munster 14 5 17 7 7 6 – 56
Southeastern 14 10 13 6 7 7 – 57
Southeastern 3-point shooting (2-17) Totten 1-6, Hamilton 1-2, Jacobs 0-3, Young 0-3, Orr 0-2, Anthony 0-1.
Southeastern rebounds (35) Griffith 10, Hamilton 7, Orr 5, Anthony 5, Totten 2, Jacobs 1, team 5.