Hampshire roars way into title game
After losing the regular-season finale to Richmond-Burton, Hampshire had 9 days to think about it. The Whip-Purs didn't like the feeling.
So when the Whips got back in action against Kaneland in the semifinal of the Class 3A Burlington Central regional Wednesday, the Whips were focused. Getting 13 points from Justin Bieber and dominating the boards against the taller Knights, the Whips rolled to a 47-38 victory.
"It's that time of year," said Hampshire coach Bob Barnett. "Nobody here wants to go home. I've got a lot of seniors that want to keep playing."
Hampshire faces top-seeded Wheaton Academy Friday for the regional title.
The Whip-Purs were outrebounded by Richmond, but were determined not to let it happen again. By halftime, 6-foot-1 guard Shyler Ralphs had as many rebounds (7) as the entire Kaneland team.
"The first practice we had after Richmond, I put bubbles on both buckets," said Barnett. "So they know the ball's not going to go in. And we did that for the entire practice, so I think they got the message."
Ralphs finished with 7 points and 9 rebounds. Will Bush had 10 points and Mike Kozenczak added 7.
Mike Pritchard almost single-handedly kept Kaneland (13-13) in the game. He scored 15 points, including 3 second-half 3-pointers.
"Mike carried us," said Kaneland coach Dennis Hansen. "Without Mike, we'd be lucky to score 25. He hit some big shots and kept us in it, but we just never got anybody else going."
Christian Dillon scored 8 points and Dave Dudzinski added 7 for the Knights but, for the most part, Hampshire kept the ball away from the twin towers.
James Goebbert added 6 points and some big hustle plays for the Whip-Purs.
Hampshire led 31-27 early in the fourth quarter, but a 3-pointer by Bieber and a layup by Tyler Watzlawick on a feed from Ralphs extended the lead to 9 points. Kaneland came back on baskets by Dudzinski and Dillon, but a driving layup by Kozenczak and a steal and breakaway layup by Goebbert put the Whips firmly in control with just over 2 minutes left.
Ralphs and Bieber combined for 7 of 8 free throws down the stretch.