Hampshire able to eke out a win
The theme of Hampshire coach Bob Barnett's pregame talk before Friday's showdown for first place in the Big Northern East at Richmond-Burton was seizing opportunity when it arises.
"A lot of times kids will miss an opportunity and never get it back," Barnett said.
The Whip-Purs nearly let a chance to seize sole possession of the division lead slip through their fingers on Friday night but held on for a 40-39 victory despite missing 9-of-10 free throws in the final two minutes.
Hampshire used a 10-2 fourth-quarter run to build a 39-34 cushion, but it had to sweat out a potential game-tying 3-pointer with 8 seconds to play due to its inefficiency at the free throw line, which included 2 misses in the bonus. Richmond-Burton missed the 3-point attempt and instead settled for a 2-point putback as time expired that trimmed the final margin to a point.
"We were 1 for our last 10 from the line and 8 for 26 (overall)," Barnett said. "Opportunity just kind of fell in our lap there instead of us seizing it. But it was a beautiful night - a road win on Senior Night for them."
The victory was the 11th in 12 games for Hampshire (16-7, 8-0), which can clinch at least a share of the BNC-E title next Friday at North Boone.
"We're on a good run," said Hampshire senior Will Bush, who finished with 8 points and 5 steals. "We've got the lead in conference now and we're still undefeated, so it feels good."
Richmond-Burton (13-9, 5-1) took a 32-29 lead with 3:04 left in the third quarter on a drive by guard Kenneth Riordan, but Hampshire held R-B to a lone field goal over the next 10:44.
"Their defense did give us some problems, but we didn't do a good job of finishing shots and we didn't do a good job screening tonight," Rockets coach Chris Nolen said. "And I think we had some guys panic a little bit. When we got down 3 points I think they felt we were down 25 and panicked. We haven't done that this year, and that's the part that was frustrating."
The Hampshire run began when Shyler Ralphs found a cutting James Goebbert with a bounce pass in the lane for a layup. Bush followed with a short jumper to give the Whips the lead before Kyle Wismer's inside bucket put the Rockets ahead for the final time, 34-33, with 4:59 left in the game.
However, Goebbert scored again, courtesy of a nice bounce pass from Bush, to give the Whips the lead for good with 4:44 left.
The Rockets were whistled for traveling on their next possession, and Hampshire capitalized when Justin Bieber drained a 3-pointer from the corner, his fourth of the night in 8 attempts, to establish a 38-34 lead with 3:25 left. .
"I think it was a game-changer, a momentum changer in a way," said Bieber, who led all scorers with 15 points (four 3-pointers). "We kept exchanging leads (8), and that finally put us up."
Bush capped the run with a free throw. Mike Kozenczak finished with 8 points for Hampshire and Goebbert added 6.