Middle School Hoops: 'Dogs Take Third At State
The year was 1995 - "Creep" by TLC was No. 1 on the billboard chart, Gasoline was 1.67 a gallon and the University of Massachusetts was the No. 1 team in college basketball.
Also on the hardwood that season, the Harrisburg Middle School girls' basketball team placed 4th in the Southern Illinois Junior High School Athletic Association State Tournament.
Fast forward some 27 years later where HMS returned to the big stage, this time finishing third in the SIJHSAA State tournament after a thrilling 39-18 win over Hamilton County.
For Harrisburg Middle School head coach Marty Nicholes, the win was an extra special considering last year's team - who finished 14-0 - didn't get a chance at a state tournament due to COVID.
"We knew we were going to have a special group after watching them go 12-0 last year as seventh graders," Nicholes said. "I'm very proud of the fact that this group only lost one game in three years. Winning the regional tournament this year at home will always be special, but I think what will stick out the most for me is the continued support we received from the Harrisburg community.
"We had the biggest crowd at the state tournament and all season, the support was unbelievable. I tip my hat to the parents as well, who worked with everyone to make sure the kids stayed healthy and COVID free."
It was a quick start out of the gate for the Bulldogs who got six straight from Jamisen Green as Harrisburg opened with a 6-2 lead.
Green answered again with a bucket in the second quarter to make it 12-2, before Hamilton County's Rayci Phelps stopped the scoring drought with a 3-pointer with 2:42 to play, making it 12-5.
A pair of free throws by Phelps cut the Harrisburg deficit to nine at 16-7 at the halftime.
Hamilton County got as close as four points (16-12) in the third quarter after a bucket by Kalin Nichols, but Hannah Rorer responded with a bucket, followed by a Koral Hathaway free throw and another basket by Rorer as the Bulldogs closed out the third quarter up 21-12.
Green led all scorers with 20 points as she had 11 in the first half. Rorer just missed out on double figure scoring adding eight.
McKendra Douglas had 3-pointer in the second quarter that gave HMS as 10-2 lead for her only bucket of the game, while Kinzley Stewart subbed in and knocked down a 3 from the top of they key in the fourth quarter.
Emma Harbison and Adi Lane each tacked on two points for Harrisburg, while Hathaway had her third quarter free throw.
Phelps led Hamilton County (23-2) with 11 points, while Calynn Clark tacked on three points. Kailn Nichols and Breanna Hobson both had two points.
HMS finished the season 24-1 and in addition to the third place title and a regional championship, the Bulldogs also won the Hamilton County Tournament for the third straight year and were back-to-back conference champions.
Spyder Dann covers prep and college sports for the Southern Illinois LOCAL Media Group. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.