By JOHN ROARK
john.roark@register-news.com
WALTONVILLE — On an evening when the shooting percentage caved in, Waltonville High School basketball coach Mike DeNault’s team found refuge from the foul line.
Despite shooting 31 percent from the floor — and being absolutely clobbered on the backboards — the Spartans were able to hold sway for a 57-52 win Tuesday evening against visiting Hamilton County.
Owning a 10-point lead heading into the fourth period, the Spartans (7-1) had just one more field goal down the stretch, then sank six of eight foul shots in the final 1:09.
“We were in the bonus (heading into the fourth quarter), and we were stinking it up (14 of 45) from the field,” DeNault said. “I thought we were shooting a little too quick.”
Hamilton County was having tremendous success inside with burly 6-3 center Duke Griesemer. Griesemer, who scored 17 points and grabbed a eye-popping 22 rebounds, was grabbing just about anything the Spartans missed.
DeNault said a lot of times, Griesemer wasn’t being challeneged for the rebound, nor was he going to be moved down in the post.
“He’s a load,” DeNault said of Griesemer. “We don’t see too many guys like that, and I thought we did a decent job on him. We had a guy like that a couple years ago ... when they get set down there you’re not moving them.”
Down 13-8 at the first stop, the Foxes gathered some momentum in the second period, going on a 9-2 run to grab a 26-21 lead with 1:11 left in the half on Clint Hopfinger’s free throw.
But Waltonville closed the frame with a flurry, scoring 11 ponts in the final 71 seconds. Brock Wheatley hit a pair of free throws on two occasions before Dylan Johnson’s steal and layup gave the Spartans the lead for good at 27-26 with 22 seconds showing.
However, the Spartans weren’t done with the surge. After Griesemer missed the front end of a bonus foul at 8.9 seconds, Skyler Witges was fouled at 2.1 seconds. Witges made both free throws, making it 29-26.
Hamilton County then threw an ensuing baseball pass down the floor, which sailed out of bounds untouched, giving Waltonville possession beneath its own basket.
The Spartans promptly inbounded the ball to Lewis, who drilled a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the right wing, and the hosts had all the momentum at the half, 32-26.
“That was a big momentum swing for us,” DeNault said. “I think we capitalized on it and used it as momentum in the second half.”
HamCo was able to keep the game within single digits in the third period, until Waltonville scored six points in the final minute — reserve Bryce Askew hit a pair of foul shots between scores from Wheatley and Lewis — to move ahead 45-35 at the third break.
However, the Foxes got hot, and closed to within 49-47 with 2:45 remaining when Aaron Cravens buried a trey from the left corner.
After having several chances to tie or take the lead on its next possession, Hamilton County was within 49-48 when Griesemer made one of two foul shots at 1:24.
But Witges hit a pair of foul shots with 1:09 remaining, Lewis hit one at 55.7 seconds after a steal, and then the Spartans kept the Foxes at bay with a pair of free throws from Witges at 24.6 seconds, another by Witges at 15.9 seconds and two from Johnson in the final act.
DeNault said his team, while HamCo was cutting into the lead, didn’t try to challenge for offensive rebounds.
“I was a little concerned that we were shooting quick,” DeNault said, “but we have four guys standing out on the perimeter watching (the shot) and not going to get (the rebound), and getting no second opportunities, then we go down and play defense for 35, 40 seconds.”
Witges had 21 points, making 10 of 11 foul shots. Lewis added 11, Wheatley nine.
HamCo, which saw Griesemer and two others foul out, managed to get 14 from Justin Webb.
DeNault credited Lewis for playing Griesemer tough in the post.
“Joe battled him all night, and we did a good job fronting him and getting backside help,” DeNault said. “The stuff he got was mostly getting it off the glass and you have to give up something — we’re trying to pressure the basketball — and it’s a win. We’ll take it.”
Waltonville meets Johnston City at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the opening round of the Sesser-Valier Holiday Tournament.
The Spartans are seeded second behind the host Red Devils.
Waltonville 57, Hamilton County 52
HamCo 8 18 9 17—52
Waltonville 13 19 13 12—57
HAMILTON COUNTY (3-6)
Lemmons 1-1 0-0 2, Hopfinger 2-9 4-9 9, RRubenacker 0-3 0-0 0, BWebb 2-7 0-0 4, Irvin 1-3 0-0 3, JWebb 6-12 1-2 14, Griesemer 8-10 1-3 17, Cravens 1-8 0-0 3. Totals 21-53 6-13 52
WALTONVILLE (7-1)
Bassett 2-12 1-2 5, Askew 0-0 2-2 2, Stanhouse 0-1 3-6 3, Wheatley 2-5 5-6 9, SWitges 4-13 10-11 21, Lewis 4-9 1-2 11, Johnson 2-5 2-2 6. Totals 14-45 24-31 57
3-point goals — Hamilton County 4-14 (Irvin 1-2, Hopfinger 1-2, RRubenacker 0-1, BWebb 0-1, JWebb 1-3, Cravens 1-6), Waltonville 5-11 (SWitges 3-8, Lewis 2-6). Rebounds — Hamilton County 47 (Griesemer 22), Waltonville 25 (Johnson 4, Bassett 4). Turnovers — Hamilton County 18, Waltonville 6. Team fouls — Hamilton County 25, Waltonville 20. Fouled out — RRubenacker, BWebb, Griesemer. Preliminary: Hamilton County, 49-41.
