MIDDLETOWN — Knowing prior to tip-off the task ahead would be a mighty one, Eastern Hancock did all it could in Saturday’s Class 2A Sectional 41 championship game against second-ranked host Shenandoah.
The Royals, who won 19 games this season — the most for the program since 2002-03 season — gave it all they had, but their season came to a close with a 61-38 loss to the senior-dominated Raiders, considered one of the favorites to win the Class 2A state crown.
“We knew they were a great team. They’re contenders to win the state championship this year. We were just going to give it our all,” Eastern Hancock senior Cameron Wise said. “The shots didn’t quite fall tonight as much as they did (in the semifinal game). That happens when you play a really good team. We gave it all we had, it just wasn’t enough tonight.”
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It was the second meeting of the season between the two Mid-Eastern Conference teams. Shenandoah had won decisively in a regular-season game on Jan. 23, also on its home court, 69-30.
Eastern Hancock was looking for its first sectional championship since 2008. Saturday’s appearance in the title game was the program’s first since 2012.
The Royals were out-experienced and out-sized. The Raiders, who won their fifth straight sectional championship, start five seniors. The Royals had only two on their team and only one starter. Shenandoah was at least two inches taller at each starting position.
“You could make a strong argument that’s a top 20-25 team regardless of class,” Eastern Hancock coach Aaron Spaulding. “They played Blackhawk (Christian, a 2A team who is in the top 5) to overtime. I thought we played them better than the first time around. We just ran into a really good team tonight.
“We just needed shots here and there, either for there’s to go out or ours to go in, to keep us within striking distance. Credit to them, a really good team.”
Eastern Hancock trailed just 13-8 after the first quarter and were down only six late in the second when Shenandoah senior sharpshooter Andrew Bennett hit the first of his two quarter-ending 3-point daggers to give the home team a 27-18 halftime lead.
At the end of the third-quarter clock, Bennett hit another trey to give his club a 17-point advantage, 44-27, heading into the final period.
Eastern Hancock had made a strong run at the Raiders in the second quarter.
Down 19-10, sophomore Silas Spaulding hit a 3-pointer. Twin brother Jacob Spaulding scored on an acrobatic layup then added a 3-pointer of his own to cut it to 19-18 with 4:05 remaining.
Bennett, who hit 4 of 6 from 3-point range, closed out the quarter. It put a pause on a 16-0 Shenandoah run. Along with ending the first half with the final eight points, the Raiders opened the third quarter with the first eight.
“They were back breakers,” Wise said of the Bennett 3-pointers. “They were big 3s, big plays, not what you want to see at the end of the quarter.”
“I thought we competed really well,” coach Spaulding added. “They hit a couple big shots. They hit a lot of shots, but the one at the end of the half that went from a six-point game to nine-point game was a big deal. Then, they hit a shot at the end of the third quarter.
“Not that they didn’t hit a lot of shots, but we had to have some things go right for us to give ourselves a good chance to win. We had to hit some big shots. Those type of shots, the ones that Andrew Bennett hit. Those are the shots that stick out the most. We needed those shots not to go in for them tonight.”
The Royals finished the year 19-6. Shenandoah is 24-3 and will play Covenant Christian in the second of two regional semifinal games noon Saturday at Greenfield-Central High School.
“To win 19 ballgames, is quite an accomplishment for this group.” coach Spaulding added. “They were truly a pleasure to coach, fun, good kids and they work hard. They got better consistently throughout the year. I’m proud of them and proud of their efforts tonight. It just didn’t come up our way.”
Late in the game, junior Landon O’Neal hit a free throw to become only the school’s sixth member of the 1,000-point club. He joins his grandfather Rich O’Neal (1974-76), who is fifth on the career list, with 1,123 points.
The future looks bright for the Royals, who started two juniors and two sophomores. Seven of the nine varsity players that saw considerable time on Saturday and throughout the season are underclassmen.
The team’s top-five scorers are all underclassmen and three of the top four are sophomores.
They will miss seniors Drew White and Wise, who were both instrumental in getting the Royals to the championship game.
“It’s a great way to end my senior year,” White said. “It was the best year of my four years. I thought it was great. I loved playing with these guys. They have a great year ahead of them. They have a shot at it next year and I’ll be here to watch them.”
In Friday’s semifinal win over Union County, White tied a career-high with 13 points. Wise had 14, just one short of his career best.
“They are the type of kids you want your program to be built on,” coach Spaulding said of his two seniors, noting their unselfishness and fantastic attitudes along with their solid contributions on the court.
On Saturday, O’Neal and Jacob Spaulding led Eastern Hancock scorers with 10 points apiece. Silas Spaulding had nine and Wise scored five. Cole Rainbolt and Edric Miller each scored two points.
Bennett led all scorers with 17. Also for Shenandoah, Jakeb Kinsey and Kaden McCollough each scored 12.
O’Neal wasn’t the only person to reach a milestone Saturday. Shenandoah head coach Dave McCollough won his 600th career game.
