Prep Girls Hoops: Foxes Trot To Regional Title

They say that history has a way of repeating itself.

Harrisburg and Hamilton County found themselves in a similar position as they were last year - in the Class 2A Regional Championship - but this time, Hamilton County had plans for a different result.

Harrisburg (16-15) won the regional a year ago at Carmi-White County and the Bulldogs looked to pull the trick again in a come-from-behind fashion, but the Foxes held off a late rally, earning the 51-42 win Thursday night at Davenport Gymnasium.

Hamilton County head coach Clint Winemiller, after seven seasons on the job, finally punched his ticket into the postseason when the Foxes will play Flora Monday night at the Flora Sectional.

It was the first regional title for Hamilton County since 2006 and for Winemiller, he admitted afterwards, this was all new to him.

"I don't know how to act or carry on," he said. "I've done this for a long time, we have been close - including last year - and to play Harrisburg on their home floor and who fought us to the very end, I thought we were very fortunate."

Hamilton County (25-6) held a 13-point lead, their biggest of the game, a little more than two and half minutes into the fourth quarter, but Harrisburg stormed back on a 12-6 run and made it a four-point game with 1:20 to play as Kelsey Hobbs connected on a bucket.

Dana Rubenacker, who finished with a double-double, including 17 points and 14 rebounds added a bucket on the other end to push the lead back out to six and put the game out of reach for Hamilton County.

Harrisburg head coach Jake Stewart felt if he could have got the kind of start to the game like he did to end the game, the outcome might have been different.

"I think we came out a little flat, a little nervous and felt the pressure of the game." Stewart said. "They start four seniors that have been through a lot, including big games like this and when we came out flat, we could never catch up."

Harrisburg held a 5-2 lead in the first quarter after Hobbs knocked down a 3-pointer with 6:24 to play, but from there, the Bulldogs went ice cold from the field not scoring again as Hamilton County built a 12-5 first quarter lead.

Things didn't get much better for the Bulldogs in the second as the Foxes outscored Harrisburg 12-10 all while committing 10 first half turnovers.

The Bulldogs went on the attack, primarily focusing on Rubenacker to start the second half, as she picked up two quick fouls in the first minute. Harrisburg made it a 10-point, 28-18 lead and was able to outscore Hamilton County 8-6 in the quarter.

Stewart noted on how more than one occasion when his team needed a bucket to get over the hump, the Bulldogs vehicle seemed to be stuck in neutral.

"That's happened on more than one occasion," he said. "We cut it to five or six and have three or four possessions and just couldn't get anything out of it. It's just a situation of us coming up short tonight."

Harrisburg, who loses just two seniors in Whitney Younger and Audree Morecraft, where led by Hobbs' 18 points.

Younger closed out her career with seven points, while Matty Hawkins chipped in with six, while Lillee Robinson and Alexa Burtis finished with five a piece. Lotte Miller tossed in a free throw.

Aside from Dana Rubenacker's 17 points, sister Megan Rubenacker also scored 17 points. Breya Cooper tacked on 10 to also finish in double figures.

Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.

Harrisburg 5 10 8 19- 42

Hamilton County 12 12 6 21- 51

Harrisburg (42): Burtis 2 0-0 5, Younger 3 1-5 7, Hobbs 7 2-2 18, Hawkins 1 4-6 6, Miller 0 1-2 1, Robinson 1 2-2 5. Totals 14 10-17 42.

Hamilton County (51): D. Rubenacker 7 3-6 17, M. Rubenacker 6 4-6 17, Biggerstaff 1 0-0 3, Cooper 3 4-4 10, Winemiller 0 1-2 1, Blades 1 1-2 3. Totals 18 13-20 51.

3-pointers: Harrisburg 4 (Hobbs 2, Burtis 1, Robinson 1); Hamilton County 2 (M. Rubenacker, K. Biggerstaff). Team Fouls: Harrisburg 18; Hamilton County 15. Records: Harrisburg finishes 16-15. Hamilton County improves to 25-6.