By RICHIE HALL
FISHERS – The Hamilton Southeastern boys basketball team endured a frustrating weekend last week, dropping two tough games.
Southeastern fell to Zionsville 52-38 last Friday in a Hoosier Crossroads Conference game. The Royals led 12-7 after one quarter, but the Eagles dominated the second quarter, outscoring HSE 18-5 for a 25-19 lead. Zionsville led by 41-22 in the third quarter before Southeastern trimmed the lead to 41-28 by the end of the period.
Reph Stevenson reached double-double status with 20 points and 15 rebounds, also blocking two shots. Deion Miles handed out five assists.
Southeastern tried to rebound last Saturday when it hosted Mount Vernon, but the young Marauders squad used hot shooting and tough defense to beat the Royals 67-55.
Southeastern got off to a good start, erasing a 5-1 deficit by scoring seven straight points. Donovan Hamilton hit a 3-pointer, then Stevenson added four points with a layin, then a dunk after making a steal.
That gave the Royals an 8-5 lead, but Mount Vernon made two 3s to take off on a 14-0 run. The Marauders led 17-8 at the end of the quarter, and a layin by freshman Luke Ertel finished the run.
Southeastern trailed 27-16 at halftime, but then dominated the third quarter, making a 19-5 run to take a 35-32 lead. Braeden Totten began the period with back-to-back layins, then Stevenson took over the game with another nine points. Totten tied the game up at 31-31 with a triple, Stevenson’s layin got HSE ahead 33-31, then after a Marauders’ free throw, Hamilton’s basket moved the Royals ahead by three.
“We really fought and clawed in the third quarter,” said Southeastern coach John Ashworth.
But Mount Vernon finished the quarter with back-to-back 3s, and led 38-35 going into the fourth. The Marauders stretched their lead to 46-35 early in the quarter, then kept a double-digit advantage for most of the period.
“I thought they made some 3s down the stretch that were difficult shots,” said Ashworth. “But anytime you shoot 11 of 22 from the free-throw line and get outrebounded 30-19, you’re not going to win that game. We have to find ways to win close games, and making your free throws and rebounding the basketball, it’s got to be a part of it.”
Stevenson led the Royals with 20 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots. Totten scored 13 points, including three 3s. Myles Holman added nine points, Hamilton finished with seven, and Gavin Papandria and Joe Karwowski both scored three points.
The Royals are 1-3 in conference play and 4-12 overall. Southeastern hosts Noblesville Friday in another HCC contest, then plays Saturday at Pendleton Heights.