Prep girls basketball: Calhoun keys Middletown past Big Blue in GMC

HAMILTON — While Middletown High School coach Kevin Aldridge felt his girls basketball team took a big step forward Saturday afternoon, the opposite occurred on the Hamilton sideline with coach Harry Phillips left searching for answers.

The Middies rode the hot hand of SaMill Calhoun, who led Middletown to a come-from-behind 38-35 win over the Big Blue in Greater Miami Conference action at the Hamilton Freshman School.

“We just stuck to our game plan,” Aldridge said. “It has been a tough season so far, so I wanted to do everything I could to make sure everyone who touched the floor was dialed in to their assignment. Our starters and our bench all came through. It was just a collective effort.”

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Middletown collected 13 assists in the game, nine in a pivotal second half that saw the Middies outscore Hamilton 25-19 to secure their first win of the season.

“We took some good shots, just grinded out each possession,” Aldridge said. “Defensively, we just need to lock it down. We knew Hamilton would come back at us with a wave of energy. We just needed to weather the storm.”

Calhoun, a 5-foot-7 junior guard, scored 13 of her game-high 15 points in the second half, including a run of 11 straight points for the Middies, who are 1-3 overall and 1-2 in the GMC.

“My first half I came out a little weak, but my second half I picked it up, ” Calhoun said. “I like to let the game settle in. I worked hard, the team worked hard. We deserved this win.”

“I told her at halftime she needed, in a humble way, to be a special player,” Aldridge said of Calhoun. “When she settles down and lets the game come to her, she is a special player. I am so excited for her and the team. It is just awesome to get the win.”

While the Middies celebrated, Hamilton’s locker room was eerily quiet.

The Big Blue shot 13-of-48 from the field and turned the ball over 24 times in dropping their second straight game. HHS (1-2, 0-2) received 10 points and 16 rebounds from leading scorer CiCi Riggins, but the senior only had seven shots.

Phillips was asked about Riggins’ low shot total while his point guards were a combined 7-of-26 from the field with 13 turnovers.

Sophomore guard Leah Smith had 10 points and junior Anna Cardwell had eight for the Big Blue.

“Bottom line is (Riggins) needs to get shots and she was open,” Phillips said. “Our girls were missing her, dribbling around out front with their head down. You can’t have your No. 1 player and not get her the ball.

“We haven’t found the right chemistry since we played Lebanon. You can’t have 11 turnovers in the fist quarter and shoot 13-of-48 and win.”

Aldridge praised Makina Gibson for her defensive work on Riggins.

“(Gibson) is, in my view, one of the best on-ball defenders in the conference if not the area,” Aldridge said. “(Riggins) is one heckuva player. It got a little chippy, but like I told the officials, when you can get one of the best on-the-ball defenders against one of the best offensive players, that is what is you are going to get.”

Middletown trailed 16-10 late in the first half, but Gibson nailed a 3 at the halftime buzzer to gain some momentum it wouldn’t relinquish in the second half.

Gibson, a senior guard, had four big points in the third quarter as the Middies snagged a 28-23 lead.

Hamilton fought back to grab a 35-34 advantage on a Riggins free throw with 1:44 left, but the Big Blue wouldn’t score again, turning the ball over twice while missing the front end of the one-and-one with 27 seconds left.

“We took the lead late and we are driving in there shooting one-on-one shots,” Phillips said. “We have just gotten out of the rhythm of what we have been doing. This particular game, you can’t let a team hang in the game. I told the girls at halftime if (Middletown) plays well in the third quarter they are going to give you fits in in the fourth, and they did.”

The Middies had some free-throw issues late, but Gibson nailed two with 1:29 left to grab a 36-35 lead. Middletown missed the front end twice in the final minute, but Calhoun and Namia Looney each made one for the final tally.

Grace Boles had four points and nine rebounds for Middletown, which shot 9-of-25 in the second half.

Both teams return to action Wednesday, with Hamilton traveling to Fairfield and Middletown hosting Mason.

Middletown 5-8-15-10—38

Hamilton 6-10-9-10—35

MIDDLETOWN (1-3, 1-2 GMC): Namia Looney 0 1 1; SaMill Calhoun 6 1 15; Makina Gibson 3 2 9; Kaliyah Wilson 0 1 1; Arianna Layne 3 0 8; Grace Boles 2 0 4. Totals: 14-5-38

HAMILTON (1-2, 0-2 GMC): Anna Cardwell 4 0 8; Leah Smith 3 4 10; CiCi Riggins 3 4 10; Jayden Isaacs 1 0 2; Kira Ash 2 0 5. Totals: 13 8 35

3-pointers: M 5 (Calhoun 2, Layne 2, Gibson), H 1 (Ash)

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