The surging Blackhawks rode a big night from junior Mason Gay along with a tough nosed defense to beat a high scoring Winter Warrior team from the Lakeland East Conference. The Blackhawks used their defense and attacking offense to win by a final score of 85-48, earning a trip to the Sectional finals in Ashland.
The Warriors jumped on the Blackhawks early, scoring the first four points of the game, off a couple of turnovers. The Blackhawks then settled in and then some as they went on a 21-0 run, which included 10 straight points from Mason Gay who hit a pair of threes and also scored on two passes from Vince Henke to break the Warriors press. Colin Fritz and Vince Henke joined in with power baskets underneath to push the lead higher. Another Gay three, followed by a Dominic Sherwood lay-up and Fritz scoring four straight points, made it 21-4. The Warriors however pushed back, cutting the lead to 23-13. A lay-up by Gay and a short jumper by Quinn Hatlestad kept the Hawks going. Ryan Nelson would later skip the ball to a wide open Gay for another three, his fourth of the half, making it 34-19. The Blackhawks continued their pressure and capitalized on the offensive end. Fritz, Gay and Sherwood all scored on eight possessions at the end of the half with the help of assists from Hatlestad and three straight by Winston Poehler. The Hawks held a 51-25 lead at the half.
The Blackhawks came out in the second half determined not to let up, and then didn't, scoring on six of their first seven possessions. A pick and roll from Hatlestad to Henke got it going, as Gay followed it with a three off a Fritz pass. Fritz would feed Hatlestad on a pass and lay-up on the next possession off a steal. Gay then drove and bounced a perfect pass to Henke, who slammed it home, putting the Hawks up 60-30. Two possessions later, Quinn Hatlestad tipped a pass and went the distance for a dunk of his own. Winston Poehler joined in the scoring with a cut and feed from Sherwood and later scored on an inside hoop and three pointer, both passes coming from Henke. Henke would then get a steal of his own and drive down the court for a two handed slam, making it 75-40. Ryan Nelson continued the senior scoring with an inside hoop from a quick Poehler pass underneath. The Hawks took time off the clock later in the half, salting the game away, with Sam Wells beating the Warrior pressure for two of his own, as the Blackhawks won 85-48.
The Blackhawks shot 36 of 54 overall (67%) from the field and finished with a whooping 26 assists in the game.
Box Score: Gay 31 pts, 1 stl, 2 charges taken; Sherwood 12 pts, 4 rebs, 6 asts, 4 stls; Fritz 11 pts, 3 asts, 2 stls; Poehler 10 pts, 2 rebs, 5 asts; Hatlestad 8 pts, 6 rebs, 5 asts, 3 stls, 2 blks; Henke 8 pts, 7 rebs, 5 asts, 3 blks; Nelson 3 pts, 2 rebs; Wendler 1 stl; Wells 2 pts, 1 stl.
Coach's Comments
The guys came with energy and executed the plan to break Winter's press. We continually were sharp versus the pressure, taking our time and then attacking when the opportunity came. 26 assists tells it all on how well the guys shared the ball tonight, plus getting the ball to the hot shooter. Once again, throughout the game, every player had their moments of stepping up and making playing plays, whether it was screening, passing, boxing out, shooting, etc...they did it.
