Hardwood Heroes

The Federal Hocking Lancers celebrate their district finals win over Notre Dame

Lancers head to Sweet 16 for first time in 53 years

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(Athens, OH) WOUB- The Federal Hocking Lancers took Route 33 to the Convocation Center at Ohio University to do battle with the Notre Dame Titans The Lancers were fighting for a district title for the first time in 53 years.

 

Lancer students and fans traveled by the hundreds for this game, as they took up at least three-fourths of the lower bowl at the convo, as well as fans sitting in the upper bowl. The students themselves took three pep buses to the game withenergy unmatched, and their love for the Federal Hocking boys squadwas on full display.

 

This contest started with a very quick tempo, setting the tone for the night. The Lancers came out with their usual motion and took advantage of the full court press. Head coach Jonathan Thompson stated more about their style of play and what they had to do in order to take home the district crown.

 

“We’ve pushed them very hard the entire year to be able to do that kind of thing. And we knew that in order to win this ballgame, we had to play our style. We had to be up in them, full court. I told the guys at the beginning of the game, you have to make them play every inch of this floor”.

 

Federal Hocking was able to do that for most of the night. However, one thing Coach Thompson stressed was the play inside the paint. “As far as keeping them out the paint, I don’t know if we kept them out of the paint or not. They’ve got some big bodies and some skilled bodies to get there. But our guys did what they had to do and they kept scratching and clawing, and here we are”.

 

The energy from both sides was evenly matched all night, and it showed on the scoreboard going into the fourth quarter, as the game was knotted up at 46 points.

 

Federal Hocking then did something that probably had most people confused. Junior guard, Tariq Cottrill, stood at the halfcourt line for close to a minute. No one from the Titans pressed him, allowing the time to just wind down.

 

When Notre Dame finally did decide to press, all they could do was foul Cottrill Finding himself at the line at least five separate occasions in the fourth quarter, Cottrill had most of those in the double bonus.

 

Cottrill said, “We knew that we had to get them out of their zone, so we adjusted what we were doing, and we started hitting foul shots. Foul shots were the difference in the game right there”.

 

The Lancer crowd was behind the team in waves, helping them to seal a 64-56 victory over Notre Dame, to become the new Sectional Champions for the first time in 53 years. Junior Andrew Airhart used the crowds energy as a source for motivation.

 

“Oh it’s great. Whenever we hear them being loud it pumps us up more, gets our movement going quicker, and it’s good seeing them here”, said Airhart.

 

Federal Hocking will take on the winner of Region 15 East one on Tuesday, March 7, right back at the Convocation Center.