Hampshire trips up Cary-Grove in OT
It didn't take long for Hampshire forward Matt Bridges to find redemption in a 64-57 overtime victory against visiting Cary-Grove Tuesday.
The Fox Valley Conference crossover boys basketball game was knotted at 50-50 with 5.6 seconds left in regulation when Bridges received the inbound pass and drove three quarters of the length of the court.
The 6-foot-2 senior had his defender beat as he drove the side of the lane and gained an unobstructed look, but his layup off glass rimmed out just before the buzzer and the game went to overtime.
No one was more disappointed than Bridges, who put his hands on his knees and stared down at the hardwood for a few seconds before making his way to the bench.
"I was upset with that shot and I just knew we had to hit some shots in overtime to get the win," he said.
Bridges made amends on Hampshire's first overtime possession, draining a 3-pointer from the top of the arc to give the Whip-Purs the lead for good.
"He got a little down on himself there," Hampshire coach Bob Barnett said, "but as soon as you get back in action you just have to put it behind you. It happens."
The Whip-Purs got the right ball back when Cary-Grove leading scorer Jason Gregoire's off-balance shot didn't fall at the other end. Jake Tuttle capitalized with a baseline jumpshot from 12 feet for a 5-point lead.
Following a missed Cary-Grove 3-pointer, the Whips grabbed the rebound and chewed a minute off the clock before Bridges was fouled and sank both ends of the bonus to put Hampshire ahead 57-50. The Whip-Purs sank 9 of 12 free throws in the final 1:26 of overtime to seal the win and improve to 6-1.
Cary-Grove (2-3) committed 19 turnovers but won the rebounding battle 40-24. Hampshire countered with offensive balance. Drew Doran had three 3-pointers among his 16 points, Tuttle finished with 15, Bridges with 14 and Austin Spaeth sank 10 of his 11 free-throw attempts to post 14 points.
"There were times we got stagnant offensively, but, I don't know, we just found ways to keep moving the ball, get good looks," Doran said. "We had four guys in double digits, so that's good team basketball."
Cary-Grove had 2 chances to win the game in the final minute of regulation but was unable to execute. The Trojans took a 50-48 lead on 6-foot-4, 280-pound forward Trevor Ruhland's putback with 2:10 left. After Hampshire missed a free throw, the Trojans went into their stall. However, one of the Trojans shot and missed a 3-pointer with 55 seconds left. Tuttle got the rebound and Bridges scored on a baseline reverse layup to tie the game at 50.
Cary-Grove still had a chance to win with 6.5 seconds left, but the inbound pass slipped through Ruhland's hands and out of bounds for a turnover.
Despite those mistakes, Cary-Grove coach Ralph Schuetzle remained focused on the positives he saw in Tuesday's game.
"We just have to stay patient and know that Hampshire is a very good team" said Schuetzle, who welcomed three football players back to practice last week. "To come in here (on the road) and have two chances to win the game, we're moving in the right direction."
Gregoire all scorers with 22 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range, and snared 10 rebounds. Junior guard Adam Loch sank four 3-pointers, including consecutive makes that erased a 6-point, fourth-quarter deficit. Senior Nick Barr added 11 points and 8 rebounds and Ruhland scored 6 points to go with 9 boards.