Allen East, Hardin Northern win sectional semifinal games

BATH TOWNSHIP - Opening round games in the sectional tournament often match teams with less than stellar records. Records often don't reflect effort and the final chance for glory.

Allen East and Hardin Northern both took advantage of tournament second chances and advanced to the Division IV sectional final games with victories Tuesday night at Bath.

Allen East avenged a 17-point regular season loss Tuesday when it beat Upper Scioto Valley 54-35 and Hardin Northern beat Ridgemont for the third time this season, winning 61-50.

The Mustangs (4-17) jumped on the Rams (4-17) early as they took a 7-0 lead and raced to a 16-6 lead after the first period of play.

Allen East forced USV into a poor shooting half as it pushed the lead to 27-15 going to the half time break. The Rams managed only 21 percent from the field in the half as they connected on only 4 of 19 from the field.

"It's been a long year record wise but this is a great group of kids," Allen East coach Chris Cockerell said. "USV kicked out butts in December but the tournament gives you a chance for redemption,"

The Mustangs 2-3 zone and 2-2-1 press continued to befuddle the Rams as Allen East outscored USV 16-8 in the third quarter to take a 43-23 lead.

Allen East managed 44 percent shooting on 22 of 50 from the field while holding USV to 26 percent for the game on 11 of 42 shooting.

The Mustangs placed three players in double figures in the game. E. J. Laing led the Allen East attack with a game high 13 points while Blake Truex added 11 and Casey Rex chipped in with 10.

USV was led in scoring by Derek Mullet with 12 points.

"We didn't get out of the chute and that has been a problem for us all year," USV coach Mike Bollinger said. "Allen East has really improved and they hustled up and down the floor."

The disappointment of the long and losing season was evident as Bollinger expressed his frustrations.

"This team has been sliding downhill the second half of the season," Bollinger said. "I failed to get through to these kids and I won't be here next year but I did it my way."

The Mustangs advance to face Temple Christian at 8 p.m. Friday for the sectional championship. Temple won the regular season game by a 48-40 margin.

The first game saw Hardin Northern (4-17) fall behind Ridgemont 9-2 before going a 10-0 run to end the quarter with a 12-9 lead.

The Golden Gophers failed to score in the final 4 minutes and twenty seconds of the first quarter. That scoreless streak continued into the second period and the Polar Bears lead had expanded to 25-9 before Ridgemont (1-20) ended the 11-minute, 15-second scoreless drought when David Shroyer connected on a 3-pointer with less than a minute to play before half time and Hardin Northern took a 27-12 lead into the break.

The Golden Gophers had more turnovers (16) than points (12) in the first half against the 1-2-2 press employed by the Polar Bears.

Hardin Northern connected on 14-of-22 from the free throw line in the third and fourth quarters to hold Ridgemont at bay.

The Polar Bears got nice balance in the scoring department as they placed four players in double figures. Tommy Wheeler led the way with a game-high 13 points. Bobby Steiner added 12 points and Joe Walter and Tyler Wilson each chipped in with 11 points.

"We had nice balance tonight," Hardin Northern coach Mark Thompson said. "I thought our press hurt them and Tyler Wilson had a nice game for us."

Hardin Northern advances to meet top-seeded Ada at 6:15 p.m. Friday.