The bookend droughts left Hamilton coach Tim Robinson with mixed emotions.
“We got off to that bad start, but we played them even in the second quarter then made that little run,” Robinson said. “It was like we ran into a brick wall — like we were happy we got back into it.”
Sophomore guard Quintin Bailey scored nine points to lead the Big Blue (4-17), who missed their first eight shots before 6-foot-8 senior Torrell Sutton got loose for a layup in the in the final minute of the first quarter.
Moeller coach Carl Kremer traced Hamilton’s problems to the Crusaders’ preparation.
“We felt like we had a good game plan defensively,” said Kremer, who earned the 400th win of his career, all at Moeller. “We wanted to make it difficult by being very aggressive. We got a lot of points in transition.”
The gap still was 16 at halftime before Hamilton started chipping away, cutting it to 42-35 on Sutton’s layup with 6:49 left in the game, but the Big Blue went into another slump, managing two Bailey free throws the rest of the way.
“In the tournament, everybody’s going to make a run,” said Moeller senior Tony Sabato, who scored six of his eight points in the fourth quarter. “We just had to keep executing. We did a good job of not getting tangled up.”
Moeller, ranked sixth in the Associated Press Division I state poll, moves on to meet No. 32 seed Amelia Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at HHS.
Saturday’s game was moved from HHS because Ohio High School Athletic Associations rules don’t allow teams to play tournament games on their home courts. Performances such as Bailey’s on Saturday keep Robinson full of hope.
“I’m proud of the kids,” he said. “Our record might not indicate it, but I’m proud of our staff and the effort put forth by the kids. I think we got better toward the end of the year, and with what we’ve got coming back and with what’s coming, I feel like things are looking good for Big Blue basketball.”
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