It was time for the Hamilton Tournament last week where the Huskers have seen a great deal of success the past five years since entering, having won the championship three times. This year the team entered as the three seed. Night one saw the Blue and Gold take on the purple clad South Harrison Bulldogs. Zayden Fisher got the first bucket, then Parson Stoner scored backdoor o the o ense, Lucas Burns hit, and Fisher hit a three to close the first quarter, Huskers down 15-9.

Kadin Aversman followed for a bucket, and Stoner sank two on the charity stripe for an 18-17 SHHS advantage in the 2nd. K. Avers- man hit, Stoner got two more from the line, and Fisher tickled the twines with a three at 3:27

Photos Dan Rumsey

Huskers up 24-20. The half ended with the Huskers up 28-25.

In the third frame, Clay Aversman made it 30-27, then got a steal and an assist to Fisher, but later, the Bulldogs were heating up from beyond and nailed a three for 35-34 Huskers still up. The third ended 40-34.

The Huskers got up 48-39 in the 4th, and led 52-47 under a minute to go, however an HHS turnover and a big three pointer from South Harrison pulled the dogs to within three at 53-50. After a timeout and 13 seconds to go SHHS splashed home a corner three for overtime.

The Bulldogs connected again from three land to start the extra period. stoner made one of two at the line and the Aversmans scored back to back for a 58-56 Husker lead. Burns got a follow bucket, then knocked down to free shots. The Bulldogs hung around but the Huskers took the OT win 63-61. Scoring: Fisher 14, Todd 2, C. Aversman 4, Stoner 13, K. Aversman 20, Burns 10, (Page was unavailable).

In the semifinals the Huskers took on the East Buchanan Bulldogs, and their full court press. C. Aversman got a three to go o the tip for a quick start. East Buchanan answered though with a banker three, before K. Aversman, and Brock Page scored for an early 8-3 advantage. Page then found K. Aversman for 10-9 at the 3 minute mark. East Buchanan closed on a 9-2 run as Q1 ended 18-12 HHS down.

The Bulldogs controlled the early part of Q2 surging ahead 26-16. K. Aversman got an and one to go at 2:39, then got a steal and score, inducing an East Buck timeout. Halftime arrived and it was 28-23.

The Huskers ramped up the intensity on their own press and defensive pressure in the third, drawing to 3327, however the ‘Dogs answered back and led 42-33 after three.

Stoner came out and hit a three to start Q4, Fisher also hit a three and buckets by K. Aversman, and C. Aversman chipped away at the lead. Fisher stroked another deep ball for 46-44 Huskers under four to play. East Buchanan scored in transition after the brief Husker lead, knocked down two key free throws and pushed the action to a tally of 55-47 and the win. The loss sent the Huskers to the third place game. Scoring: Fisher 8, Todd 2, C. Aversman 7, Stoner 6, K. Aversman 17, Page 6. (Burns was unavailable).

The third place game was against host school Penney High on Saturday. Hamilton is led by their 6’8′ post player Jacob Miller (a North- western University D-1 football recruit) who had 31 points in the contest. Miller Is even called upon to bring the ball up the court at times if needed.

Miller scored first for 2-0 Penney, then Fisher hit a three for 3-2 Huskers. Miller was on the charity stripe soon after for 4-3. The Huskers held a 7-6 advantage for several possessions before Page made it 9-6 at the 2 minute mark. Burns hit down low and Q1 ended 11-10 Huskers.

Hamilton built a lead in the 2nd quarter though before the Huskers could get a bucket from Burns for 18-13 Penney up. Fisher made it 2016 with a corner three on an assist by C. Aversman, but Hamilton answered with their own three. Burns scored on an inbounds play for 26-18, and the half eventually ended 31-22.

After the intermission, Fisher drove into the lane and was hacked in the act, getting the and one for 33-25. Hamilton extended their lead to 4025 before Aversman scored at the 4 minute mark. Page hit a three with 30 seconds left and Q3 ended 47-32 Hornets up.

Penney was keeping the Huskers at arm’s length pushing their lead to 57-34 by mid 4th quarter, K. Aversman hit from mid range however the host team Penney would take the win 60-37 for third place. The loss drops the record to 14-4 on the season for the Huskers. Scoring: Fisher 9, C. Aversman 4, Stoner 3, K. Aversman 10, Page 3, Burns 8.