Foxes’ late run topples Tigers

By CHARLES PENDELL

charles.pendell@mcleansborotimesleader.com

HERRIN — Hamilton County ran off the last 11 points of the game to register a 37-33 victory at Herrin on Saturday night.

It was a comeback in more ways than one for the Foxes, coming on the heels of a 51-28 home loss at the hands of Woodlawn on Jan. 5.

Against Herrin, the Foxes fell behind early, trailing 18-12 at halftime and 22-14 in the third quarter before starting to make up ground. Fox center Duke Griesemer had eight points in the quarter, which ended with his team trailing 28-24.

Herrin began the final frame with a trifecta for a 31-24 lead, but then Fox guard Adam Irvin threw a baseball pass to Clint Hopfinger, who snuck downcourt for a layup to cut the lead to five.

Another Tiger score inside gave the hosts a 33-26 lead — what would prove to be their last score of the contest.

The Foxes began their final comeback with 3:49 left to play. Aaron Cravens dished to Hopfinger for a trey, then Robert Rubenacker used his quickness to drive the lane for two, trimming the margin to 33-31.

Justin Webb then pulled down an offensive board and hit a turnaround shot to tie the game at 33-33 with 2:13 left.

After a Herrin miss, Webb pulled down a rebound, and the pass went to Griesemer down low; the 6-foot-6 Griesemer decided to drive to the basket, hitting a pull-up jumper inside to give the Foxes their first lead of the night, 35-33, with 1:27 left.

Each team called back-to-back timeouts with 55 ticks remaining. After the last timeout by the Foxes, Hopfinger stole the inbounds pass and was fouled; Herrin was not yet in the bonus situation.

The Foxes inbounded the ball to Justin Webb, who was fouled intentionally. He hit his first throw, but missed the second, for a 36-33 lead.

Herrin got the board and called a timeout with 22.5 seconds left. The Foxes then called a timeout and, after the break, the Tigers inbounded the ball, but a Herrin player stepped into the backcourt, turning the ball back to the Foxes.

Herrin fouled Hopfinger, who missed the one-and-one free throw, but Justin Webb rebounded the miss with 6.7 seconds left. Webb swished the first free throw, missed the second, and Cravens pulled down the board as time expired.

Leading the Foxes were Justin Webb with 12 points and seven boards and Griesemer with 11 points and five boards. Rubenacker added five points and two boards; Hopfinger five points and a steal; Brandon Webb two points, one steal and one board; Irvin two points and one board; Cravens two boards and one steal; and Steven Lemmons one board.

After the win, Fox coach Curt Reed noted that his team “did not have much or any effort” in its previous outing against Woodlawn.

“Take nothing away from Woodlawn,” Reed added. “They were second in the state last year and they had three returning starters back. They were very quick and very talented and they played together and we didn’t have much effort and they kicked our tail, bottom line.”

But the Foxes were able to regroup against the Tigers, he said.

“In the first half, they were killing us on the boards,” Reed said. “We came out in the second half and gave them a different look defensively, and it stymied them just a little bit.”

The Foxes’ rebounding was “much better the second half,” Reed said.

“We have to be smart,” he said. “We don’t play very smart at times. Hopefully we will learn from our mistakes.”

But it was a good win for the Foxes, Reed added.

“They came in here and beat a nice basketball team on the road.”



Woodlawn 51, Foxes 28

Woodlawn stormed out to an 11-2 first-quarter lead, increasing it to 19-2 before Hopfinger hit a free throw. Things really didn’t get much better for the Foxes from that point.

Cravens knocked down two treys in the last minute-and-a-half of the second quarter, but the Foxes still trailed 29-11 at halftime.

Woodlawn led by 19 after three quarters en route to the 23-point victory.

Cravens led the Foxes with 12 points. Robert Rubenacker chipped in eight, Hopfinger four and Justin Webb two.

The Foxes (7-8) host ex-Fox Wade Thomas’ Johnston City Indians on Friday night at the Den before heading to the Benton Invitational next week.

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