By RICHIE HALL
Hamilton Southeastern’s girls basketball game with New Castle was both an easy win and a grand occasion.
The Class 4A No. 2 Royals breezed to a 76-38 victory over the visiting Trojans on Tuesday. The highlight came in the first quarter when junior star Sydney Parrish became the latest member of Hamilton County’s 1,000-point club.
Parrish came into the game with 994 points, needing only six to reach the magic number. She got it midway through the first quarter on a 3-pointer. The game was stopped to recognize Parrish, then it was quickly back to business.
“I honestly didn’t even know I was close until about two games ago,” said Parrish. “I didn’t really think about it, but then I was like ‘Oh!’ I was worried this game that I wasn’t going to get there. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, six points.’
Parrish said she couldn’t have done it without her teammates.
“They’re the reason that I get some of the points that I have,” said Parrish. “That’s a big help.”
“Syd’s a wonderful kid,” said Southeastern coach Chris Huppenthal. “She gave up the ball when she needed to give it up. She didn’t force any shots, she took a lot of great shots. And she was hitting tonight.”
“I’m so happy for her,” said Huppenthal. “Having her in our program has been a blessing for us and for everybody involved. She does a great job of including her teammates in everything she does on the basketball floor.”
The Royals put this game away early. Southeastern led 26-0 before New Castle scored a basket at the last second of the first period. HSE then led 43-12 at halftime and was up 67-25 after three quarters.
“I thought early on, we did a very good job defensively,” said Huppenthal. “I thought we did a good job against (Cameron) Tabor. We wanted to go ahead and try and take her out. We thought if we eliminated her opportunities, we eliminated the rest of the team’s opportunities. Especially the first quarter. We did a very good job jumping on their 3-point shooters, and again, eliminating Tabor’s dribble penetration lanes.”
Parrish finished the game with 23 points, including five 3-pointers, and also had six rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots. Amaya Hamilton also scored 23 points, and earned a double-double by collecting 11 rebounds.
“We all get along so well,” said Parrish. “They understand every part of sharing the ball. Everybody’s great with each other.”
“Amaya Hamilton played amazing tonight,” said Parrish. “Everybody’s happy for her. It’s just a great feel as a team, on and off the court.”
Jackie Maulucci added 15 points. Molly Walton had six rebounds and five assists, while Malea Jackson also dished out five assists.
The Royals’ junior varsity won 63-12. Scoring were Viele 21, Hinshaw 13, Stewart 9, Etheredge 5, Hill 4, Gabriel 4, Baker 3, Goeglin 2 and Rathbun 2.
Southeastern is now 13-1 for the season and will host Fishers on Saturday in the Mudsock game.
Southeastern 76, New Castle 38
Southeastern FG FT TP PF
Amaya Hamilton 9-17 4-4 23 0
Molly Walton 1-1 2-2 4 3
Malea Jackson 1-10 0-0 2 2
Sydney Parrish 8-11 2-2 23 0
Jackie Maulucci 7-13 0-0 15 3
Lydia Self 1-4 0-0 2 1
Bailee Poore 1-5 0-0 2 2
Lauren Morris 0-3 0-0 0 5
Bri Baker 0-2 0-0 0 0
Ryan Viele 1-2 0-0 3 0
Makayla Hinshaw 1-1 0-0 2 1
Allie Poyer 0-1 0-0 0 0
Totals 30-70 8-8 76 17
Score by Quarters
New Castle 2 10 13 13 – 38
Southeastern 26 17 24 9 – 76
Southeastern 3-point shooting (8-25) Parrish 5-6, Maulucci 1-4, Hamilton 1-3, Viele 1-1, Jackson 0-7, Morris 0-2, Baker 0-1, Poore 0-1.
Southeastern rebounds (37) Hamilton 11, Walton 6, Parrish 6, Self 4, Poore 3, Morris 2, Jackson 1, Hinshaw 1, Maulucci 1, Baker 1, Poyer 1.
Hamilton Southeastern’s Sydney Parrish became the newest member of the Hamilton County 1,000 point club during the Royals’ Tuesday game with New Castle. Parrish is pictured with her parents Shawn (far left) and Aimee Parrish and Southeastern head coach Chris Huppenthal. (Richie Hall)