Huskies clinch third in conference

Hamilton Heights' Gus Etchison (center) and his teammates celebrate after Etchison hit the winning 3-pointer in overtime to send the Huskies past West Lafayette in the Hoosier Conference third-place game Friday. (Kent Graham)

Hamilton Heights needed overtime to win the Hoosier Conference third-place game, but the Huskies prevailed, 57-54, over West Lafayette Friday at the Heights gym.
The contest was tied at 54-54 after regulation. The Huskies got the overtime tipoff, then held on to the ball for the entire extra period. With two seconds left, Gus Etchison threw in a 3-pointer that proved to be the winning basket, and the only points in the overtime.
The Red Devils led 16-11 after the first quarter and 35-22 at halftime. Heights came storming back in the second half, cutting West Lafayette’s lead to 45-42 by the end of the third period. Etchison had 12 points in the third quarter, then added nine more in the fourth.
Etchison finished the game with 28 points, five rebounds and four steals. Noah Linville was next with 11 points, while Luke Carroll had five rebounds and two blocked shots.
The Huskies are 12-4 and play tonight at Noblesville.

HAMILTON HEIGHTS 57, WEST LAFAYETTE 54
(overtime)
Heights FG FT TP PF
Gus Etchison 11-26 3-3 28 3
Noah Linville 4-7 0-0 11 3
Luke Carroll 1-4 1-2 3 2
Isaac Wilson 2-6 0-0 4 0
Lucas Letsinger 2-8 0-0 5 1
Isaac Tuma 1-1 1-2 3 3
Tillman Etchison 1-1 0-0 3 0
Blake Stevens 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 22-53 5-7 57 12
Score by Quarters
West Lafayette 16 19 10 9 0 – 54
Heights 11 11 20 12 3 – 57
Heights 3-point shooting (8-25) G. Etchison 3-10, Linville 3-4, Letsinger 1-6, T. Etchison 1-1, Wilson 0-4.
Heights rebounds (18) G. Etchison 5, Carroll 5, Letsinger 4, Wilson 2, Linville 1, Tuma 1.