Hamilton Heights held off a third-quarter run by Class 3A Sectional 24 host New Castle on Tuesday, and that helped the Huskies to a 65-59 opening-round victory.
Heights was in control in the first half, leading 12-6 after the first quarter and 29-16 at halftime. The Trojans poured in 22 points in the third period, cutting the Huskies’ lead to 42-38 by the end of the quarter. But Heights scored 23 points in the fourth to clinch the win.
Gus Etchison had another big game, scoring 33 points, including 14-of-16 from the free-throw line, and collecting nine rebounds. Brent Pennington drained three 3-pointers on his way to 13 points, while Hudson Hochstedler added 11 points, five rebounds and four assists. Camron Knott pulled six rebounds.
The Huskies are 15-8 and play Jay County at 6 p.m. Friday in the first semi-final game. Yorktown beat Muncie Burris 67-50 in Tuesday’s second game and will take on Delta in Friday’s second semi-final.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 65, NEW CASTLE 59
Heights FG FT TP PF
Gus Etchison 9-17 14-16 33 2
Hudson Hochstedler 5-8 1-2 11 3
Brent Pennington 4-6 2-3 13 0
Camron Knott 2-3 1-2 5 1
Issiac Hickok 0-2 0-2 0 2
Luke Carroll 0-2 1-2 1 1
Lucas Letsinger 0-0 2-2 2 0
Totals 20-38 21-29 65 9
Score by Quarters
Heights 12 17 13 23 – 65
New Castle 6 10 22 21 – 59
Heights 3-point shooting (4-13) Pennington 3-5, Etchison 1-4, Hochstedler 0-2, Hickok 0-1, Knott 0-1.
Heights rebounds (25) Etchison 9, Knott 6, Hochstedler 5, Pennington 4, Carroll 1.