Following Hartville’s 52-31 win in Friday’s Class 2 – District 9 championship game at Laquey High School, there were smiles and hugs, high fives and shouts of delight…
But there was something missing.
While the family and fans of the Eagles were elated, Class 2 No. 1 Hartville’s players and staff had a certain calmness in the midst of celebrating a fourth straight district championship.
“It definitely doesn’t get old,” said Hartville coach Brett Reed. “I think we didn’t go as crazy because we still feel like we have some unfinished business left to do. But anytime you win a district championship it’s special. I’m at a loss for words.”
PHOTOS: HARTVILLE VS. NEWBURG – CLICK HERE
The game wasn’t the cleanest Hartville fans have seen this year; the Eagles have mercy-ruled 16 opponents this year.
Hartville led wire-to-wire on Friday, holding Newburg to just four first-half field goals and allowing 12 points in the game’s first 16 minutes. Also the 12th time this year that opponent has been held to less points than minutes played.
Hartville’s current rotation doesn’t feature anyone taller than 6-foot-3, meaning that the Eagles don’t have a true rim protector, but Hartville has been able to counter that by creating turnovers via steals and errant passes, or the old, might charge.
Both were equally troublesome for Newburg.
“Part of our defensive philosophy is wearing people down,” said Reed. “We aren’t going necessarily turn them over every time, we’ll certainly take them where we can get them, but we just want to wear them down with constant pressure. There sets us up to get beat off the dribble some but when we do we take pride in having early help and helping the helper.
We have to draw charges; we aren’t very big, we aren’t very long and we’re not going to block or alter many shots. We average about four or five a game. I always tell our guys that we need to lead the state in charges. I don’t know who stats all of that, but I always tell them we did at the end of the season.”
Hartville’s 52 points were the least amount the team has scored since a 40-37 loss to Nixa on Jan. 12, but that could be the silver lining. Even in a game that didn’t feature their signature hectic, 32 minutes of havoc style, the Eagles were still able to control the game.
A 20-12 halftime advantage grew to a 27-14 lead early in the second quarter thanks to a quick 7-2 spurt. Hartville carried a 37-23 lead into the fourth quarter and that lead was never truly threatened.
“We talked a lot about pace and controlling that and for the most part we did a good job,” said Newburg coach Logan Ray. “We were able to eliminate what we call their easy baskets, like their transition stuff, but we could have done a better job rebounding and making some of those point-blank shots at the rim to keep it closer. Proud of my guys, they came out and battled, they’re one heck of a team.”
Newburg was led by Tyler Newton’s 10 points. He was the only Wolf in double figures.
Junior Deric Jones scored 15 points, while senior guard Grant Dedmon matched that total, with his final point of the night giving him 1,000 for his career. Classmate Ryan Ward broke the 2,000-point mark earlier in the season.
“Grant was probably celebrating as much as anyone out there,” said Reed. “I think he’s kind of like me, it doesn’t get old. This is a special thing. That’s a pretty decorated senior class, along with four district titles. If we can find a way to win our sectional game then Grant’s class will have won 100 games in four years which is pretty impressive.”
Again, Hartville finds itself just two wins away from Columbia and four wins away from a state title. Both Reed and his seniors are ready to end the Final Four drought.
The Eagles will play the winner of Class 2 – District 10 (Mansfield vs. Bakersfield) in the sectional round on Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. at Lebanon High School.
Hartville 52, Newburg 31
Newburg 5-7-11-8 – 31
Hartville 15-5-17-15 – 52
Newburg: Newton 10, Doer 6, T. Gaedke 6, Reagan 5, Callahan 2, Wofford 2.
Hartville: D. Jones 15, Dedmon 15, D. Piper 10, R. Ward 6, W. Ward 3, Keith 3.
