Hamilton falters late in loss

Jones’ 20 points, Sutton’s triple-double not enough for Big Blue.

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By Eric Hickey, Contributing Writer 7:47 PM Saturday, January 21, 2012

SHARONVILLE — For 32 minutes, the Hamilton High School boys basketball team showed the effort to compete with one of the top teams in Cincinnati.

Unfortunately for the Big Blue, youth and inexperience continue to peek through at inopportune times when it comes to showing they can execute against a top team for four quarters.

Christian Jones nailed six 3-pointers on his way to a game-high 20 points, and Torrell Sutton recorded a triple-double (12 points, 10 rebounds, 10 blocks) but Hamilton High was done in by 25 turnovers, many at key moments, in a 56-51 Greater Miami Conference loss at Princeton.

“Man, it would be big to pull one of these out,” Hamilton coach Tim Robinson said. “We cut it to two (48-46 with 3:10 left) but couldn’t take the next step. We keep preaching work hard and this group of kids does that but we need someone to step up late and take control.”

Hamilton fell behind early 12-5 but clawed back with Jones nailing two treys and Adam Pankey coming off the bench to hit two putbacks to get within two (21-19) at halftime.

Jones hit another 3-pointer in the third to give Hamilton a 24-23 lead, but Princeton (9-3, 4-3 GMC) ended the quarter on a 8-2 run, with the Big Blue turning the ball over four times in their last five offensive trips.

Despite the run, Hamilton was able to cut the lead to 48-46 with 3:10 left behind the play of Sutton, who tallied eight points and swatted away five shots in the final stanza.

“A triple double?” Robinson said of Sutton’s play. “I have been around this program a long time and I would have to say (Greg) Stokes was the last one to get a triple-double that included blocks.”

“Christian (Jones) went off for 20, Sutton has a big night but we need someone else to step up,” Robinson added. “I have a good bunch of kids and I can’t tell you how happy I am to coach these kids. We just need to find a way to pull one of these out.”

Marcus Oliver added eight points and eight rebounds for Hamilton, which fell to 3-10, 1-6 GMC. The Big Blue host Colerain on Tuesday.

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