Team victory for Big Blue
Hamilton's balance beats Highlanders in GMC test, 65-54
BY TOM GROESCHEN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
HAMILTON - Billy Allen was held to six points Friday night, but the Hamilton basketball star could not have been happier.
The Big Blue used a balanced attack to beat Oak Hills 65-54 in a season opener at Hamilton, as a nearly full house watched the Greater Miami Conference rivals.
"It's the first game, and guys are already stepping up," Allen said. "I love it. Now when I'm double- or triple-teamed, we have other guys that can score and get it done."
Allen, a 6-foot-6 senior forward/guard, was pretty much the show last season for a young Hamilton team. Allen averaged 17.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists and was an Enquirer all-star, but Hamilton went 11-10 as the Big Blue generally lacked for other consistent offensive threats.
This season, they're there.
Senior forward Kevin Miller had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and senior wing Justin Schultheiss had 14 points, six assists and three steals. Senior forward Ryan Butler, senior guard Aaron Bailey and junior forward Marquis Powell each had 9 points for Hamilton.
Hamilton, the preseason pick to win the GMC, is ranked No. 7 in the Enquirer Division I area coaches' poll. Oak Hills is tied for No. 9.
Allen, son of Hamilton head coach Larry Allen, has signed with Albany (N.Y.), a Division I college program. Allen was blanketed Friday night by the outstanding defense of Oak Hills senior forward Erik Prosser and shot only 2-for-7 from the field, but Allen also contributed six rebounds, five assists and two steals.
"It shows we're more than a one-man team," Larry Allen said. "We've got several guys now that can step up on any given night, and Billy won't have to worry as much about scoring. He does a lot of other things to help us, as it is."
Oak Hills, with only two starters back in Prosser and junior point guard Justin Steigerwald, controlled much of the first half and led 28-26 at the break. But in the end, the Big Blue's defensive pressure and crashing of the offensive boards resulted in more offensive opportunities.
Hamilton gradually pulled away in the final quarter.
"Our inexperience showed," Oak Hills coach Mike Price said. "If we let a guy get open and make a shot, then we'd rush downcourt and try to do too much too soon. Overall, I'm encouraged rather than discouraged. We held Billy down, but their other guys did a great job too."
Oak Hills was led by senior forward Kyle Dattilo, who had 11 points. Prosser and sophomore guard Jake Proctor each had nine points. The Highlanders went 17-6 last season but lost some key players including Enquirer all-star Steve Pogue, who now plays for Miami University and was in the stands Friday.
Offensively, Miller scored Hamilton's first eight points of the game. Schultheiss also came through with three 3-pointers, including a big one right before the first half ended.
Schultheiss also is a pitcher with a 90-mph fastball, and he has signed with the University of Cincinnati for baseball.
"I think we're going to be able to help Billy more this year, like you saw tonight," Schultheiss said. "It was a team win."
Hamilton shot 55.3 percent (21-of-38) from the floor. Oak Hills was 20-of-43 (46.5 percent). Hamilton won the rebounding stats 30-24. Hamilton had 19 turnovers, Oak Hills 17.
Oak Hills (0-1, 0-1 GMC) - Steigerwald 3 1 7, Proctor 4 1 9, Dattilo 5 0 11, Prosser 2 5 9, Blundred 1 0 2, Hunterman 2 0 5, Odenbach 1 0 3, Renken 1 0 2, Streicher 1 4 6. Totals: 20 11 54.
Hamilton (1-0, 1-0 GMC) - Bailey 3 3 9, Schultheiss 5 1 14, Butler 2 5 9, Allen 2 2 6, Miller 5 5 15, Fowler 1 0 3, Powell 3 3 9. Totals: 21 19 65.
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3-pointer: OH 3 (Hunterman, Odenbach, Dattilo); H 4 (Schultheiss 3, Fowler).
