East held Middletown under 20 points through three quarters and rolled to a 41-33 win at home heading into Friday’s regular-season finale against Colerain. Middies leading scorer Cliff Snow, who averages 15.8 points per game, managed just six.
“I was really happy with our defense tonight,” Adkins said. “Anytime you hold a team to 33 points, you’ve got to like your chances to win games. I thought we did a really good job tonight especially on Cliff Snow, who is one of the best scorers in the league. He was 2-for-11 tonight, and even the shots he hit were tough shots, so I was really happy with how we defended him.
“Our team defense overall was pretty good. Late in the game, I thought we gave up some easy offensive rebounds, stickbacks which hurt us, but overall I was happy with our defense.”
The Middies (7-14, 6-9 Greater Miami Conference) came to life in the fourth quarter to outscore the Hawks 14-9 for the period, cutting as much as a 15-point gap down to six twice in the final two minutes before East (14-7, 10-5) closed it out at the free-throw line.
Using a suffocating full-court press, Middletown was able to force six turnovers in the final four minutes to score eight of its points and added another five second-chance points, while Adkins thought his team grew passive.
“We started playing in the waning moments of the game,” Middies coach Darnell Hoskins said. “We have to come out with that disposition from the beginning and dominate. That same level of energy, that same sense of urgency we had in the last four or five minutes of the game has got to be from the tip so we’re not digging ourselves such a big hole to fight out of.”
Jomar Bailey scored six of his team-high 12 points in the fourth quarter to help spark the Middies’ offense, which shot just 35.1 percent for the game.
“The style of basketball we play limits the amount of possessions in the game, so we have to value each possession,” Hoskins said. “We have to get a good shot. We have to finish. We have to make free throws. We can’t miss a box-out because of the style we play.”
The Middies held GMC-leading scorer Jarrett Cox to 10 points — seven of which came in the first quarter — and Evan Kuhlman to nine points. Kuhlman added nine rebounds and four assists, and Jackson See also had 10 points.
East defeated Middletown 52-48 in their first meeting Jan. 31.
“We just need to continue to get better in all areas,” Adkins said. “Going into the tournament you want to be peaking and playing your best basketball. We’re playing good, but I know we can definitely play better.”
The regular season ends for both teams Friday. The Thunderhawks host Colerain, while the Middies travel to Lakota West.
Middletown 7-7-5-14—33
Lak. East 14-7-11-9—41
MIDDLETOWN (7-14, 6-9 GMC): Nelson Rutledge 3 1 8, Cliff Snow 2 1 6, Aaron Jones 1 0 2, Colin Isaacs 0 1 1, Broderick McGhee 1 0 2, Jawunn Bailey 1 0 2, Jomar Bailey 5 2 12. Totals: 13-5-33
LAKOTA EAST (14-7, 10-5 GMC): Jackson See 3 2 10, Evan Kuhlman 4 0 9, Matt DeSalvo 2 0 6, Kyrell Metts 2 2 6, Jarrett Cox 2 5 10. Totals: 13-9-41
3-pointers: M 2 (Snow, Rutledge), L 6 (See 2, DeSalvo 2, Kuhlman, Cox)
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