Hamilton handles Heuvelton, heads to state final four for first time since 2000
After a two plus decade break, Hamilton is returning to Glens Falls.
The Emerald Knights thrashed Section X’s Heuvelton Central 53-34 in the NYSPHSAA Class D Regional at SUNY Postdam behind 17 points from Hudson Idzi and 16 from Reese Snyder.
“We wanted to use our 1-3-1 and take away perimeter shooters and make them beat us from the inside,” Blackford said. “We also handled their press really well.”
Similar script to last week
Like its Section III Final win against Sackets Harbor, Hamilton used a dominant second quarter to set the tempo. It led by just two after one but that lead was extended to double digits at the intermission.
The Bulldogs tallied just six in the second. The Emerald Knights held Heuvelton in single digits in points for the second to fourth quarters.
Blackford said the key to the tempo-altering second was Hamilton’s defense around the three point line.
“I wasn’t as concerned about their inside game, it was about their ability to make threes,” he said. “Once they didn’t hit a lot of shots inside, we controlled the tempo.”
Ball-control offense key in second half
The Emerald Knights’ ball control offense fended off any Bulldog run in the latter 16 minutes.
“They tried to press us, we couldn’t turn it over, so we would get it over half-court, and we did a good job of being patient with the 35 second shot clock,” he said. “We’d score with five seconds left on the clock.”
Idzi and Snyder’s senior leadership and composure assisted the squad, as has been the case throughout the playoffs.
“You could see how much their maturity has grown this year, especially in the last 4-5 games,” Blackford said.
What’s Next?
The victory moves Blackford and Hamilton to its first NYSPHSAA Final Four since 2001, when it lost by one in the state title to Batavia-Notre Dame.
The Emerald Knights will battle the winner of Saturday’s regional between Section VI’s Panama and Section V’s Avoca/Prattsburgh next Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls. A/P is the defending Class D state champion.
Blackford, who won state titles in 1994 and 2000, advanced to his sixth final four with the win. Post-game, he downplayed the accomplishment somewhat though.
“I try to do the same thing every year,” he said. “I try to get my kids to reach their potential, and sometimes the ball bounces your way and sometimes it doesn’t, but you can’t lose sight of your goal.”
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Hamilton handles Heuvelton, advances to NY state basketball final four
