After getting down early, Hamilton Heights fought back in the fourth quarter before falling to Harrison 63-61 in the Huskies’ final home game of the season.
The Raiders led 20-16 after the first quarter, with senior AJ Field scoring 10 of those points, including two 3-pointers. The second period was marked by two distinct runs, one by each team. First, Harrison began the quarter by making a 10-2 run to go up 30-18.
Heights came back after that, outscoring the Raiders 13-4 in the remainder of the period to cut their lead to 34-31 by halftime. Gus Etchison scored seven points in the quarter, while Kray Leininger added six points.
“We didn’t play well early,” said Huskies coach Chad Ballenger. “We shot ourselves in the foot. We didn’t shoot very well early and got ourselves in a hole, but worked hard to come back.”
The Huskies continued to roll in the third period, taking a 49-46 lead by the end of the quarter. Field scored nine more points, including two more 3s.
The Raiders stayed within striking distance, and took the lead back in the fourth period. Harrison led 61-56 during the final minute of the game before one last push by Heights. Etchison scored five points in the game’s final 30 seconds, including a layin with 8.6 seconds left. The Huskies got one last shot after the Raiders missed the front end of a one-and-one, but it didn’t go.
“You’re in situations that you learn from, so now we can come back in practice and show on film and show late in the game, this is what we want,” said Ballenger. “And these are the things we want to do. How we want to attack the rim. You got to learn from those type of situations.”
Etchison finished the game with 25 points and three 3-pointers, with Field scoring 24 while draining four 3s. Field also collected six rebounds. Hudson Hochstedler dished out six assists and made four steals.
Heights finished the regular season 14-8. The Huskies will now play in the New Castle sectional, playing Muncie Burris next Tuesday, Feb. 26. Ballenger said his team has watched the Owls “a little bit,” and will be in attendance at their Thursday game against Blackford.
“We’re going to go watch them Thursday night and see a little bit more and then we’re watching film,” said Ballenger. “So we’ll be ready. It’s one game at a time.”
Harrison 63, Hamilton Heights 61
Heights FG FT TP PF
Gus Etchison 8-16 6-7 25 1
Issiac Hickok 2-11 0-0 6 3
AJ Field 9-15 2-4 24 2
Kray Leininger 3-5 0-0 6 2
Hudson Hochstedler 0-3 0-0 0 2
Cory Vonfeldt 0-2 0-0 0 0
Jonny Cambron 0-1 0-0 0 0
Totals 22-53 8-11 61 10
Score by Quarters
Harrison 20 14 12 17 – 63
Heights 16 15 18 12 – 61
Heights 3-point shooting (9-30) Field 4-8, Etchison 3-8, Hickok 2-10, Vonfeldt 0-2, Hochstedler 0-2.
Heights rebounds (17) Field 6, Hickok 4, Etchison 3, Leininger 2, Vonfeldt 1, Hochstedler 1.
Hamilton Heights senior AJ Field scored 24 points for the Huskies during their Tuesday game with Harrison. (Richie Hall)