By RICHIE HALL
FISHERS – It didn’t take long for the Hamilton Southeastern boys basketball team to get itself together after a tough start to the season.
The Royals dropped their season opener last Wednesday at Brebeuf Jesuit 66-42. But Southeastern put that game in the rear-view mirror when it played its home opener last Saturday against Pike. The Royals got stronger as that game went on, beating the Red Devils 68-54.
“We struggled Wednesday, but the kids really focused on getting better the next couple of days in practice,” said HSE coach John Ashworth. “We practiced this morning. We had a full practice and the kids are just more concerned about getting better. So, we were happy with their effort and how they played.
Pike came out hot in the first quarter, with junior Damon Howard pouring in 14 points and helping his team to an 18-14 lead after one. But the Royals stayed in it thanks to their depth, as five different players scored, including five from Donovan Hamilton.
“I feel like we really needed a game to get ourselves together and see how we match up with each other and what our roles are on the team,” said Hamilton. As a result, Hamilton said HSE “came out today and played a lot better.”
The Red Devils had their largest lead at 23-16 with 7:01 left in the second quarter, but Southeastern took over from there. The Royals outscored Pike 21-7 over the remainder of the period, giving them a 37-30 halftime advantage. Southeastern put its toughness on display by making three consecutive putbacks. Hamilton had the first two, including a three-point play, then Kam Anthony scored a rebound bucket.
“I think Donovan Hamilton really set the tone to get to the basket,” said Ashworth. “And you got kids like Kam Anthony and Michael Griffith really crashing the boards. “We created a lot of second chances.”
Anthony’s basket started a spurt of seven HSE points. He added a layin, then Nate Orr drained a 3-pointer to give the Royals their first lead of the game at 28-26. Coryell Spates tied things up at 28 with a layin, but Jack Jacobs, a 6-1 sophomore, threw in a triple and Southeastern was back in front 31-28. The Royals would stay ahead from that point forward.
“We had a lot of guys come off the bench with a lot of energy,” said Hamilton. “We never let up on our energy. We kept it up the whole game.”
Southeastern led 37-30 at halftime, and managed to stay a basket or two ahead in the third quarter, which finished with the Royals up 46-40. Braeden Totten helped out with a 4-for-4 effort from the free-throw line in that period.
Pike stayed close during the first few minutes of the fourth quarter, still within 52-48 midway through the period. But Southeastern went on a quick 7-0 run to move ahead by double digits. Hamilton and Griffith both made layins, and Orr was good on an and-1. Anthony slammed down a dunk in the fourth (Hamilton dunked earlier and Griffith made a second-quarter dunk), then Griffith added five points in the final three minutes.
Hamilton scored 22 points, with Totten adding 13 and Orr scoring 10. Griffith and Anthony both had eight points and nine rebounds, while Jacobs handed out four assists.
The Royals are 1-1 and travel to Avon Friday to start Hoosier Crossroads Conference play. Southeastern hosts Marion Saturday.