12-31-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
ELDORADO - The Harrisburg Bulldogs became just the second team in the 48-year history of the Eldorado Holiday Tournament to win three-consecutive tourney titles.

They left little doubt who was the best team in the event following a 58-37 win over Gallatin County in the championship game on Monday night.

Coach Randy Smithpeters' undefeated squad, jumped out to a 10-0 lead early and then removed all doubt with a big third quarter push to take home the championship.

Tournament Most Valuable Player Tyler Smithpeters scored 17-points in the title game, including a pair of 3-point bombs in the open stanza that got Harrisburg in front for good in the “wire-to-wire” win.

The Bulldogs also got points from Eli Taborn-Scott (13) and Capel Henshaw (12) as they improved their record to a sparkling 14-0.

Gallatin County (12-2) went 3-1 in the tournament but lost its second game to the Bulldogs after losing at the Harrisburg Invitational Tournament back in November to the hosts.

Seven-foot senior center Andrew Drone led all scorers with 18-points and grabbed 10-rebounds as he, too, made the all-tournament list.

Patrick Lowe, a 6-foot-6 senior forward, added nine points for the Hawks and also made the all-tournament team.

Harrisburg got off to the great start, thanks to a defensive effort that forced four early mistakes from Gallatin County.

Smithpeters hit a pair of 3-pointers in the opening run and Taborn-Scott scored on a fast break as a result of a Henshaw steal.

By the time Smithpeters dialed long distance a second time, the Bulldogs were up double-digits with 3:52 to go.

Part of the issues in which hurt Gallatin County in the title game was their inability to get Drone the ball early.

His limited amount of early touches didn't help as the Hawks fell behind 17-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Gallatin County would get as close as seven points in the second quarter before Harrisburg put and end to the drama.

Guard's Daine Hish and Wes McGuire hit 3-point shots in the frame.

McGuire's 20-footer from the left wing made it 23-16 Bulldogs.

But a 3-pointer on a set out of bounds play by Ryne Roper and a drive to the basket by Smithpeters, that turned into a conventional three-point play, took the teams to the locker rooms and the wind out of the Hawks' wings at 29-17 Harrisburg.

Coach Smithpeters team came out of the break and took full advantage of four-straight Gallatin County turnovers.

Henshaw turned those miscues into points.

He also got an “And-One” out of a drive to the basket and his lay in after a steal by Roper put Harrisburg up 32-17.

A 7-2 run to close the third quarter, capped by a 3-pointer from 6-foot-4 sophomore Bahari Amaya, closed the period at 47-27.

Harrisburg coasted home from there, running clock (2:05) before getting a back door lay in by Taborn-Scott.

Eli added a three-point play and Roper scored on a back door lay in before Coach Smithpeters and Gallatin County head coach Robert “Radar” Patton emptied the benches.

Harrisburg hit 24-of-49 shots on the night and were very careful with the ball, committing just five turnovers, with two of them coming in the final quarter by the reserve unit.

Gallatin County, when they had the opportunities to score, shot the ball well in connecting on a 18-of-35.

But the main issue with the Hawks was turnovers as they committed 14 in the contest, seven in the third quarter.

Behind Drone, Gallatin County held a 22-21 rebounding edge.

Eight different Bulldogs scored in the game as Amaya and Roper each added five points.

Amaya is the nephew of former SIU and NBA player Ashraf Amaya.

Harrisburg's "three-in-a-row" matches Norris City-Omaha-Enfield's title run between 1988 and 1990 behind former University of Evansville standout Reed Jackson.

“We talked about it before the game, we wanted to keep the pressure on them (Gallatin County) and we wanted to turn them over and get the big runs,” added Coach Smithpeters. “Our bench is a strength that we have and we have gone deeper than that in games that aren't as crucial. And that has, and will, help us in the long run. It helps us stay fresh in the games that we play.”

Gallatin County (37) – Storto 0 0 0-0 0, Hish 0 1 0-0 3, Lowe 3 0 3-6 9, Z. McGuire 0 1 0-0 3, Drone 8 0 2-5 18, Ramsey 0 0 0-0 0, Belford 0 0 0-0 0, Jackson 1 0 0-0 2, W. McGuire 1 0 0-0 2, Scates 0 0 0-0 0, Russell 0 0 0-0 0. 2FG-13, 3FG-2, FT-5-11, PF-16.
Harrisburg (58) – Smithpeters 5 2 1-1 17, Henshaw 4 1 1-1 12, Roper 1 1 0-0 5, Taborn-Scott 6 0 1-1 13, Upchurch 1 0 0-0 2, Amaya 1 1 0-0 5, Bjornsson 0 0 0-1 0, Younger 0 0 0-0 0, Bartok 0 0 2-2 2, Hartley 0 0 0-0 0, Goldman 0 0 0-0 0, Oglesby 0 0 0-0 0, Simerly 0 0 0-0 0, Batts 1 0 0-0 2, Houston 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-19, 3FG-5, FT-5-6, PF-15.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.

Meridian (57) – Powell 0 0 2-2 2, Schoffner 0 2 3-6 9, Jones 6 1 2-3 15, Moore 4 0 4-4 12, Davis 3 1 0-0 9, Weldon 3 0 0-0 6, Parker 0 0 2-4 2. 2FG-16, 3FG-4, FT-13-19, PF-16.
Massac County (61) – Nickerson 3 1 0-0 9, Blye 3 1 1-3 10, Mitchell 3 1 5-6 14, Schute 4 0 2-3 10, Kendall 4 0 1-2 9, Roundtree 0 0 0-0 0, Reinwald 2 1 2-2 9, Welch 0 0 0-0 0. 2FG-19, 3FG-4, FT-11-16, PF-14.
Fouled Out – Davis - Meridian.
Technical Fouls – None.

Herrin (38) – Butler 2 0 3-4 7, Chrostoski 0 0 0-0 0, Pirtle 4 0 0-2 8, Lukens 0 3 4-4 13, Taitt 0 0 4-4 4, Hoganschurz 0 0 0-0 0, Beasley 2 0 0-2 4, Snider 1 0 0-0 2. 2FG-3, 3FG-4, FT-11-16, PF-11.
Union County (KY.) (42) – Fleming 3 0 0-0 6, Ricketson 2 0 0-0 4, Floyd 0 1 0-0 3, Cruse 2 0 3-4 7, Loxley 3 1 1-1 10, Girten 1 0 0-0 2, Dailey 0 0 0-0 0, Anglin 1 0 0-2 2, Foster 1 2 0-0 8.
2FG-13, 3FG-4, FT-4-7, PF-12.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.

Coach Scott McElravy's club, who lost a hearbreaking last-second shot on Friday in the opening round against West Frankfort, rallied for three straight victories.

Fairfield (9-5) got 20-points from Nathaniel Lackey and 16-points from Joseph Rodgers in the triumph while also getting 15-points each from Will Griffith and Tristian Fry.

Eldorado (6-10) got 28-points from all-tournament selection Tyler Deaton in defeat.

Fairfield closed the win by hitting 19-of-24 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Eldorado (75) – Lawrence 2 1 0-0 7, Denton 8 2 8-6 28, Boulds 2 1 7-9 14, Street 0 2 0-1 6, Wiseman 6 0 2-3 14, Roberts 1 0 1-2 3, Graceffa 0 1 0-0 3, Unthank 0 0 0-1 0, Mitchell 0 0 0-0 0
2FG-19, 3FG-6, FT-16-24, PF-23.
Fairfield (82) – Griffith 6 0 3-4 15, Fry 2 2 5-6 15, Rodgers 3 0 10-12 16, Co. Simpson 3 0 0-0 6, Lackey 7 0 6-8 20, Gifford 1 2 1-2 9, Greifzu 0 0 1-2 1, Wells 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-22, 3FG-4, FT-26-34, PF-22.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.