By RICHIE HALL
ARCADIA – Hamilton Heights cruised to its third straight victory on Saturday, beating county rival Sheridan 84-47 at the Huskies’ gym.
It was another high-scoring performance for Heights, which is averaging over 80 points per game for the season. The Blackhawks played the Huskies close during the first part of the first quarter, but Heights used an 18-2 run that stretched through the first and second periods to take control and continued to build its lead from that point forward.
“I thought our guys did a nice job,” said Huskies coach Chad Ballenger. “I thought our guys did a nice job. Offense really getting out and going. Defense, I think we made some mistakes here and there. But overall, I’m pleased. Big county game. They were on a nice roll until they got beat in overtime last night. They had already won five games and Tod’s done a good job getting them playing at a different pace.”
Ballenger noted that the Heights teams is missing seven players from both varsity and junior varsity who return on Monday. Despite those absences, the Huskies were able to construct their latest win streak over rivals such as Lapel, Western Boone and Sheridan.
“Some of the guys that weren’t playing as much minutes got a bunch of minutes the last two weeks, so that makes us better,” said Ballenger. “We’re going to come back next week and be deeper. I’m real pleased about that.”
Heights led 8-7 early in the quarter. Both teams had their long-range shooting going early, with Noah Linville making a 3-pointer for the Huskies and Ethan Moistner hitting a 3 for the ‘Hawks.
Gus Etchison scored back-to-back baskets, the latter of which was the first of his five dunks for the game, to get Heights up 12-7. Kyle Eden cut the lead to 12-10 with a triple, but the Huskies then blasted off on their long run, which got them ahead 30-12 early in the second quarter.
Isaac Wilson scored nine points, accounting for half of the run, with Etchison adding four points. Braden Kinder finished the run with a 3-pointer, and Luke Carroll scored on a layin.
“Chad does a good job with them,” said Sheridan coach Tod Windlan. “They’re well-coached and they move the ball extremely well.”
Heights used an 11-0 run late in the second quarter to lead 43-18 before Moistner made a jump shot for the last basket of the half. Etchison scored five points, a 3-pointer and another dunk. Etchison opened the second half with yet another dunk.
The Huskies kept the pace going in the third quarter, adding another 21 points. Etchison and Wilson each scored seven points during the period, with Wilson making a 3. Etchison made a three-point play and Carroll scored the final basket of the quarter to put Heights up 64-37.
Sheridan had a good quarter, with Moistner hitting three triples on his way to 11 points that period. Eden added six points, all on layins.
Heights pulled away in the fourth quarter with a 12-0 run. After Etchison hit two free throws, the Huskies scored on five straight layins to go up 78-39.
Everybody stepped up for Heights. Etchison led the way with 30 points, eight assists, five rebounds and five steals. Wilson totaled 21 points and six rebounds. Carroll dominated the boards with 19 rebounds to go with 14 points. In fact, Carroll outrebounded Sheridan all by himself, as the Blackhawks had 16 rebounds as a team. Linville handed out six assists.
Moistner scored 27 points for Sheridan, including five 3-pointers, and collected seven rebounds. Kyle Eden scored 14 points while Corbin Murray handed out five assists. It was a tough weekend for the ‘Hawks, but Windlan wants his team to keep moving forward.
“I told them, don’t get their heads too far down after this,” said Windlan. “Our first eight games, we were in tough, hard-fought games all eight games.”
The Huskies are 8-2 and play Friday at Tipton in a Hoosier Conference East Division game. Sheridan is 5-4 and plays a Hoosier Heartland Conference game Tuesday at Clinton Central; Windlan noted that his Blackhawks’ team, at 1-1, is “still right there” for the conference title.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 84, SHERIDAN 47
Sheridan FG FT TP PF
Corbin Murray 0-5 0-0 0 1
Kyle Eden 5-12 3-5 14 1
Cayden Hunter 0-3 0-0 0 1
Silas DeVaney 1-1 0-0 2 0
Ethan Moistner 11-24 0-0 27 0
Keenan Warren 1-4 0-0 2 2
Cole Watts 0-0 0-0 0 1
Carson Huffman 0-3 0-0 0 0
Evan Grinstead 1-2 0-0 2 1
Totals 19-54 3-5 47 7
Sheridan 3-point shooting (6-19) Moistner 5-13, Eden 1-3, Hunter 0-2, Grinstead 0-1.
Sheridan rebounds (16) Moistner 7, Warren 3, Murray 2, Eden 2, Hunter 1, Grinstead 1
Heights FG FT TP PF
Gus Etchison 13-23 3-3 30 0
Noah Linville 3-6 0-0 8 2
Luke Carroll 7-9 0-0 14 2
Isaac Wilson 9-12 1-1 21 1
Isaac Tuma 1-4 0-0 2 1
Braden Kinder 2-4 0-0 5 1
Collin Gilmore 2-3 0-0 4 0
Evan Williamson 0-2 0-0 0 0
Totals 37-63 4-4 84 7
Heights 3-point shooting (6-24) Linville 2-5, Wilson 2-5, Etchison 1-8, Kinder 1-2, Tuma 0-2, Williamson 0-2.
Heights rebounds (37) Carroll 19, Wilson 6, Etchison 5, Linville 3, Gilmore 2, Kinder 1, Tuma 1.
Score by Quarters
Sheridan 12 8 17 10 – 47
Heights 22 21 21 20 – 84
No mention of Sheridan starter being hurt and did not return during the first quarter when it was close? Sure, it wouldn’t of changed if it was a W or L but truly believe the score wouldn’t of been near as bad for the losing team. But was a major contributor of why H.H. had the run they did.