02/04/2022
BY JACK BULLOCK
JUNCTION - Getting your team ready for the postseason is mostly what February basketball is all about and Coach Doug Miller is hoping to keep his Hamilton County club moving in the right direction.

The Foxes took down Gallatin County on Saturday night, 44-35, to improve to 12-15 on the season.

It was their second win in a row on the weekend after beating Edwards County on Friday night.

Hamilton County proved on Saturday night that they could win games without senior Wyatt Hamson having a huge offensive night.

While the 6-8 center was held to just seven points, his teammates more than picked up the pace for the Foxes.

Five-eleven junior Eli Hanson hit for a team-best 13 points for Ham Co.

Junior forward Abe Neal added 11 points and Trenton Pike scored 10 for the Foxes.

“We've improved the last three or four weeks but we haven't put it on the floor,” said Coach Miller. “Our kids are getting better. The kids are learning the fundamentals of this game. Our bench guys are scoring now and our starting five kids are more balanced in scoring.”

Coach Craig Utterbeck and his Hawks slipped to 9-16 on the campaign with the loss is spite of a game-high 21 points from 6-4 junior Noah Richardson.

Sophomore Grant Jackson and 6-7 senior Rylie Rushing scored five points each while junior Wyatt From added four points.

The Foxes took the lead in the first quarter and held off all rally attempts from the hosts.

Hamson scored five of his points in the opening frame and his teammates took it from there.

A 9-2 run to close the quarter into the second frame broke a 5-5 tie for a 14-7 advantage.

Hanson made a steal and scored on a fast break during the run and Neal connected on a 3-pointer to close the first quarter.

Consecutive scores by Jackson and Fromm got the Hawks back close but a 3-pointer from reserve freshman Ethan Kessler and a rebound score from Neal made it 19-14 at halftime for the Foxes.

“We missed a couple of opportunities in the second half to get back the lead but we just never quite got over the hump,” said Coach Utterbeck. “We just needed a little more tonight and against good teams it's difficult to come back after getting behind.”

The Hawks managed to stay close in the second half but there were no major offensive and defensive runs by the hosts to overtake Hamilton County.

Jackson and Richardson both converted conventional three-point plays in the third quarter on drives to the basket.

However Pike also delivered on a drive in the lane for an 'And-One” as the Foxes still led at the end of the third at 31-26.

Consecutive baskets by Hamson and Neal to open the fourth extended the Hamilton County advantage.

With scores by Richardson (twice) and Fromm, the Hawks got to within 36-32 with just 2:40 remaining.

From that point on, the Foxes set up residence at the foul line.

Hamilton County connected on 8-of-12 free throws in the final 1:19.

The Hawks needed to make shots in the fourth quarter but were only 4-of-13 from the floor, 15-of-40 overall, in the defeat.

The Foxes ended up 14-of-33 overall, 3-of-10 from the arc while Gallatin County was just 2-of-9 from long range.

While the two teams were deadlocked on the boards at 21 rebounds each, the Foxes forced eight of the 13 Gallatin County turnovers in the second half.

“That (turnovers) was on our board at halftime. We were pressing but we weren't forcing turnovers and I said (to the team) lets get seven or eight turnovers in the second half and we did,” said Coach Miller.

The Hawks needed to get to the foul line more often but were just 3-of-5 compared to 13-of-22 for Ham Co.

“We wanted other guys (besides Hamson) to beat us and they got the job done,” said Coach Utterbeck. “They hit some big shots.”

Coach Utterbeck and his Hawks have just two remaining regular season contests; at Thompsonville (February 7) and Hardin County at home on February 14.

The Foxes have two road conference games coming up (Fairfield and Carmi-White County) along with a home game against Waltonville and a finale at Vienna before regionals begin on February 18.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The 1972-73 Ridgway Eagles state championship team (50 year anniversary) along with the 2012-13 sectional championship Gallatin County Hawks were honored before the game.

Hamilton County (44) – Hanson 3 1 4-6 13, Pike 3 0 4-5 10, Neal 2 1 4-9 11, Richards 0 0 0-0 0, Hamson 3 0 1-2 7, Carson 0 0 0-0 0, Lueke 0 0 0-0 0, Kessler 0 1 0-0 3. 2FG-11, 3FG-3, FT-13-22, PF-11.
Gallatin County (35) – Rushing 1 1 0-0 5, Richardson 8 1 2-4 21, Fromm 2 0 0-0 4, Jackson 2 0 1-1 5, Fillingham 0 0 0-0 0, Sandifer 0 0 0-0 0, Monroe 0 0 0-0 0. 2FG-13, 3FG-2, FT-3-5, PF-18.
Fouled Out – Fromm, Jackson - Gallatin County.
Technical Fouls – None.