Patriots beat Raiders, fall to Hatchets in sectional semifinal

The Patriots limited Washington to two single-digit scoring quarters in the first and third before allowing 22 points to the Hatchets over the final eight minutes of the game.

“Really came down to the end, a play here or a play there and the ball bounced their way,” Hawkins said. “They hit a couple big shots and that’s where it ended.”

Washington trailed by six points entering the fourth and the Hatchets were aided by two 3-pointers from Brycen Neidigh in the period. Colton Stowers hit one of his three 3-pointers in the fourth while Zach Mann went 6-for-6 from the free throw line down the stretch.

Stowers had 15 points to lead Washington while Cooper Wright, Mann and Neidigh had 12 points apiece.

For Heritage Hills, Trent Sisley again paced the Patriots offensively with 27 points on 12-made field goals and a 1-for-3 mark at the stripe. Sisley had eight points in the first, helping Heritage Hills to an early 12-7 lead.

Sisley and Marcus Becher each hit 3-pointers in the second and Jake Prior added two baskets but the Patriots were outscored by Washington 17-12 after Stowers scored eight points in the period.

Hawkins said as the game went on, Heritage Hills didn’t have enough answers offensively to counter the Hatchets.

“When we’re really good it’s when everyone is involved,” he said. “We just didn’t have enough parts working at the same time. Just didn’t hit shots and when you get to this level and you get to the sectional semifinal, that’s kind of what you have to do.

“Washington made shots, we didn’t hit shots but it definitely wasn’t a lack of effort.”

Heritage Hills opened the sectional with a 42-37 victory over Southridge Feb. 28.

Hunter Meredith hit two 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 13 points to pace the Patriots. Sisley added 10 points while Colton Hopf had seven.

The Patriots outscored the Raiders in the first three quarters before Southridge used a late burst in the fourth to make things interesting in the final minutes, eventually outscoring Heritage Hills 11-7.

Heritage Hills ended the season with a 16-9 record and it was the seventh-consecutive winning campaign for Hawkins’ Patriots. And there’s reason for optimism in Lincoln City, with five key returners returning next season.

“We have to have more consistency out of all of our guys, I think that’s what it is,” Hawkins said. “These kids that we have on our basketball team and the ones who are coming back are very talented and very good.

“We have five of our top seven back for the next two years so obviously the future is bright, but we felt we had an opportunity and we just let it slip through our hands.”

CLASS 4A SECTIONAL FIRST ROUND

HERITAGE HILLS 42, SOUTHRIDGE 37

Southridge 5-10-11-11—37

Heritage Hills 9-14-12-7—42

SR: Tooley 7, Whitehead 1, Uebelhor 9, Wright 2, Schwartz 9, Boaglin 2, Buse 9. HH: Meredith 13, Gray 2, Brentlinger 5, Hopf 7, Sisley 10, Becher 5.

CLASS 4A SECTIONAL SEMIFINA

WASHINGTON 55, HERITAGE HILLS 48

Heritage Hills 12-12-15-9--48

Washington 7-17-9-22--55

HH: Meredith 2, Gray 4, Prior 4, Hopf 8, Sisley 27, Becher 3. W: Wright 12, Thurston 4, Stowers 15, Mann 12, Neidigh 12.