Boys basketball: Williams nets 26 in Fremd’s win over Hampshire at Hardwood Classic
Eight years ago this week Fremd made a huge statement by sweeping through the field at Wheeling's Hardwood Classic that netted them their second title in four years.
The Vikings won their four games by a 15-point average that kept them on the road to a record-setting 31-win campaign that included a Class 4A final four berth.
On Monday afternoon, Fremd put together a display reminiscent of that squad as it was successful in all facets of the game in a 77-55 win over Hampshire in opening round play at the Hardwood.
The Vikings (10-1) advance to Thursday's 7:15 p.m. quarterfinal vs. Stevenson (7-3), a 65-47 winner over Notre Dame.
"We're just trying to get better every day," Fremd's first-year coach Mike Brown said. "Hampshire did a real good job of running their stuff, moving the ball around, and putting us on our heels, but we were able to do enough today so that's good. We're pleased with our progress, but we've got to keep doing that every day."
After the Whip-Purs (3-9) bolted out to a 12-6 advantage, Fremd went on a 17-0 tear that put Hampshire on its heels the rest of the contest. A Tommy Moffett putback with 1:27 left in the period completed the tide-turning surge with a 23-12 lead.
Six-foot-7 junior Jordan Williams tallied 11 of his game-high 26 points during the run. He credits Brown's installation of a new offense that has achieved a sense of comfort and awareness among he and his teammates.
"It has us finding our rhythm and I got to thank (both) him and my teammates,“ Williams said. ”I'm feeling good. It's amazing."
Hampshire could get no closer than 29-21 on a drive through the lane by junior Cole Harkin with 6:37 left in the opening half. The Vikings led 46-32 at the break and 59-43 after three.
Six-5 junior forward Rafael Pinto added 20 points while 6-4 senior swingman Samuel Hirsch scored 14 for Fremd.
Senior guard Ryan Prowicz led the Whip-Purs in the scoring column with 11. They will face Niles Notre Dame (5-6) in a consolation quarterfinal Thursday.
"The biggest thing for us is defensively we did not get any stops. I'm a little disappointed in that," Hampshire coach Mike Featherly said.
"We got blown by way too many times tonight. If you want to make a run in any game you've got to defend the ball and you've got to get stops."