57-23? Cripes. Good night for Mark. He's going to state and his college alma mater is playing for the national championship tomorrow.

58-27 Final.

I was at this game. WOW! If Hiland plays like that at state, watch out! McDonald is a very, very good team, but they were totally neutralized tonight. Kaufman, #31, Bonifant, and the entire Hawks defense played excellent man defense tonight, moving their feet and using their length to their advantage, forcing McDonald into tough shots all night. On offense, the Hawks are tough to stop and showed their depth tonight. McDonald started in what looked like a triangle-and-2 on Kaufman and Boyd, but the other players made shots that forced them out of that defense by the middle of the 2nd quarter.

Kaufman is fun to watch on the fast break. It was almost as much fun as it was watching Rottman, Breneman, and company run the fast break back in 2006 for our Titans. Bonifant came off the bench to score 18 or so to lead the Hawks, including 3 or 4 three pointers in a row in the 2nd half which broke it wide open. Kaufman was slowed down early, but ended up finishing with 16 I think. Boyd was at 8 or 9 points the last I checked, almost all of which was on fast breaks/dishes inside. He passed up a number of 3's tonight to get their offense a better percentage shot. It was good to see the Hawks not settle for the 3 when there were driving lanes... it makes them very dangerous.

All in all, I was very, very impressed with the Hiland team tonight. I cannot wait to see them next week at state! Good luck Hiland!

Wow. That was a defensive clinic by the Hawks. Totally shut McDonald down. At times McDonald looked like they did not know how to attack the hoop.

Best game of the year by Seger, still wonder why Jalen got t'd up, his dad said ref saw a wild elbo. But Jalen didn't deliver it......great game, looked like a freight train, seemed officials struggled some but a tough game to call, very physical, up next Continental 21-3 AP#9 Thur @ 8:15, winner plays Sat @ 1:30

See you Thursday!

wes_mantooth;714345 wrote:My analysis....I really think that if Hiland can score more points than McDonald, I think they have good chance at winning.

Glad they followed my expert advice.

Seger probably played his best game as a Hawk last night, dude can bring intensity like Jalen and fire his teamates up, Dylan's between the legs dribble at full speed while splitting 2 defenders on a fast break was epic, Braden played a solid game both on defense and penatrating and then dishing to the open man, Luke got mugged and hit the floor hard on his fast break layup, and 1....kid is a competitor, Jalen must of ticked the one ref bad to catch a T....still don't understand why 4 foul shots and the ball? Noah and Jason played very well too. congrats

I think it was an unsportsmanlike call after the play, whether it was his actions or what was said that got the T, not during the play, but what he did after is what the ref got him for. I guess you will have to watch the film to see it, but whatever it was the ref did not like it.

I watched the replay last night. If anything, I still feel like it shoulda been a double T because they got tangled. I also argue the four foul shots, cuz I'm really not sure how the kid coulda been shooting. Not for when Jalen fouled him by what the ref saw. It was a late whistle and you can't give the kid foul shots just because he was shooting by then in the first half, I felt that ref totally tried to control the game (stopping play to make them tuck in shirts, the T, even the charge that he called on Jalen was very suspect) and the others deferred to him. At half-time, the kid sitting next to me who just came to watch a good game, says "Welln your winning by 11 and your playing 5 against 8." I do agree it was a tough game to call, and I appreciate the fact that the ref pulled Jalen aside before the start of the second half to explain why he called it. Thought it set the tone there, too.

Agree 100% about it being Seger's best game. Dylan's between the legs thing was totally sick. I think he has improved so much this year, especially in his passing and from behind the arc. Hope to see Noah go off next week. He's due for a game with about 5 three's (although I know its hard to shoot from outside at the Schott).

Congrats Hawks. Great season by McDonald.

The officiating was terrible in that game. These officials sucked on both sides of the ball. Hiland had many calls go against them that were questionable, at best. Midway through the 3rd as the blowout began, the officials finally seemed to back off.

september63;717421 wrote:The officiating was terrible in that game. These officials sucked on both sides of the ball. Hiland had many calls go against them that were questionable, at best. Midway through the 3rd as the blowout began, the officials finally seemed to back off.

not complaining, as we're going to state, but we've seen less than average reffing in at least our last 3 games. (that's being kind). The players have said the calls have been so inconsistent, they don't know how to adjust to it.

from last night:
ref (to Hiland player): "your shirt's untucked again."
Hiland player: "that's because my defender keeps pulling it out"

I've seen a few pictures from the game, and --yup--pretty much every one has the McDonald defender holding on to said player's jersey..

ricola;717439 wrote:from last night:
ref (to Hiland player): "your shirt's untucked again."
Hiland player: "that's because my defender keeps pulling it out"

Haha. I saw when that happened last night, and laughed.

As a neutral viewer I can't really say the officiating was one sided, and they allowed a very physical game with a lot of no calls and there was a lot of body contact on the layup/blocked shots which I think McDonald was hoping to get some fouls called, but then they just seemed to throw up off balance shots inside and hope for calls which never came. I don't believe McDonald has had to go against that much height inside all season and that took away their game as they had no real good looks inside.

Noticed the official had to call a personal timeout to untie/tie his shoe to allow the last of the subs to get into the game. Nice gesture.

not claiming it was one sided...just ....below average

september63;717421 wrote:The officiating was terrible in that game. These officials sucked on both sides of the ball. Hiland had many calls go against them that were questionable, at best. Midway through the 3rd as the blowout began, the officials finally seemed to back off.

I did say the officiating sucked on both sides of the ball. I just pointed out a few calls against Hiland I thought were horrible.

yeah, I'll agree with all of that, too. I don't think that it was a deliberate thing, there were just some jaw-dropping calls And like ricola kind of alluded to, it didn't affect the outcome of the game. I do remember thinking early in the second that the way they were calling it might lead to someone getting hurt, tho. I think my fav was when McD was trying to burn clock in the second quarter - and Hiland was letting them - and they called Jason Miller for a foul. I said it was like an ump calling a strike when the pitcher was trying to intentionally walk someone

ricola:

Last three games would include Hiland-Rosecrans. That was an extremely WELL officiated game.

ferflog;717809 wrote:ricola:

Last three games would include Hiland-Rosecrans. That was an extremely WELL officiated game.

I completely disagree with that....i thought it was very inconsistent.

wes_mantooth;717896 wrote:I completely disagree with that....i thought it was very inconsistent.

as did I
as did the players I talked to

as has everyone else i talked to. You dont make that travel call at the end of that game. Very inconsistent.

It was a travel call. He called travel. No problem.

Again, my opinion. I saw probably 30 tournament games in person, and that was the best officiated tournament game I witnessed.

And Rosecrans would have rolled through that Regional as well. Looks like they will get their chance next year (unless Hiland can regroup). Rosecrans is certainly favored at this point in time, returning all five starters.

Best of luck to the Hawks in the State Championship.

ferflog;718845 wrote:It was a travel call. He called travel. No problem.

Again, my opinion. I saw probably 30 tournament games in person, and that was the best officiated tournament game I witnessed.

And Rosecrans would have rolled through that Regional as well. Looks like they will get their chance next year (unless Hiland can regroup). Rosecrans is certainly favored at this point in time, returning all five starters.

Best of luck to the Hawks in the State Championship.

Hiland graduates only 3 players (1 starter). They will be back for sure. Plenty of ball handlers, shooters and 6'5", 6'6" and 6'7" returning.

Hiland actually graduates 3 starters, but have a deep bench returning. As mentioned next year they will start 6'5, 6'6, 6'7, & a returning starting guard. To say Rosecrans is "certainly favored" next year is quite a big statement. I hope they (Rosecrans) think that as well. Either way, I expect the same two teams to see each other at the same place next year.

I would agree that Rosecrans would have advanced through the regional as well. It is a shame that those teams happened to be in the same district. (I remember a number of years ago when Cambridge and East Liverpool I believe were in somewhat the same position; 2 of the best teams in the state in essentially the same district meeting too early in the tourney.) A few years ago it was the same with Hiland and Malvern in the same sectional. Both advanced to district where Hiland won on a last second shot--ended up in Columbus.

As for the refs---everyone sees things differently I guess. But so far you are the only one anywhere I've run across who thought that game was well called. I think we can at least agree it didn't decide the outcome thankfully. I will say, compared to the McDonald/Hiland game, the Rosecrans game refs were certainly better than those!

Thanks for the support/well wishes. So far we kinda think if we can beat Rosecrans I like our chances with anyone else!

My bad about the 3 starters. We all know Seger isnt listed as a starter, but plays starter minutes. Its like losing 2 starters.