The Avon Orioles beat out the Hamilton Southeastern Royals in a nail-biting contest, finishing with a 51-48 victory. The game showcased moments of brilliance and challenges for both teams as Avon rallied late to secure the win.
HSE built a solid 10-point lead at 34-24 nearing the end of the third quarter, capitalizing on strong defense and timely scoring. However, Avon mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, outpacing HSE to take a 49-42 advantage. Key plays from HSE included a clutch three-pointer by Braeden Totton and a fast-break foul on Luke Weemer, which brought the Royals within a single possession at 49-47. Avon responded with a critical basket to extend their lead to 51-47. HSE had opportunities in the final minutes but fell short, including a missed tying three-pointer in the last seconds.
Both teams had similar stats, with Avon holding a slight edge in field goal percentage (42% to 36%) and assists (10 to 6), while HSE led in steals (7 to 5) and blocks (3 to 2).
Insights from Coach Ashworth
Coach Ashworth reflected on the team’s performance, emphasizing areas for growth
On the loss of momentum in the fourth quarter:
“Our offense got a little stagnant, and I don’t think we had very good offensive possessions. That’s on me as a coach to get our players in better positions and to get valuable possessions.”
On shot selection in key moments:
“We constantly talk about time, situation, and matchups. We want to get the best shot possible, but in the midst of the game, it doesn’t always work out perfectly. We’ll review the film and find ways to improve.”
On positives from the game:
“We definitely have a scrappy group that hold themselves to a high standard. They want to win, and they really work at it. Once shots start falling and we learn how to play consistent winning basketball, we’ll be a tough group to play against.”
On free-throw challenges:
“As a team, we’re shooting 74% from the line through two games, which isn’t a bad number. Misses at the end are magnified, but we teach our players that every possession matters. Our players will get back in the gym and work to be better and more consistent.”
The Royals aim to bounce back against Marion on December 7th before hosting Brebeuf Jesuit for Senior Night on December 13th. With each game, they continue to embody their “All In” spirit and grow as a team.
