Gilman City got a spark from an unlikely source in Jace Estrada in the championship game of the HDC Tournament; normally a post player, he stepped out and shot the Hawks into a lead that would stand up for much of the game. Winston put together a frantic rally in the fourth quarter as the Hawks lost the lead at one point. But the Hawks kept their heads, and a pair of inexplicable miscues by the Redbirds allowed them to regain the lead and come away with a 59-57 win over Winston Friday.
With Estrada's defender, Levi Youtsey, staying in the paint to try and stop drives from Camden Griffith, Landon Preston, and Kenyon Puls, Estrada was left alone in the corner for a triple to start the game. Winston fought back to tie it at 5 and 7, but then Landon Preston sparked a rally in the last 1:28 when he cut inside and scored. Preston started dishing out dimes, including Estrada's second triple, a transition basket from Kenyon Puls, and another transition basket from Camden Griffith to make it 16-7 after one.
On the other end, the Hawks' big men, Estrada, Parker Virtue, and Bo Eads, were banging with Youtsey and slowing him down. Someone else had to step up and Brayden Watkins knocked down a 3-pointer for the Redbirds to stop the bleeding and make it 16-10. Landon Preston answered with a 3-pointer of his own, but Youtsey looked to get untracked after hitting a closely guarded baseline shot to make it 19-12.
But following a monster stuff by Camden Griffith, Estrada hit his third triple and Kenyon Puls went backdoor and scored to make it 42-12.
With a team like Winston, however, teams have had to pick their poison. Either they surround Youtsey and risk a 3-point barrage or guard the shooters and risk Youtsey, closing in on 2,000 points, going off for 55 points, which he did in a game last year. Sure enough, Slade Lee stepped up for the Redbirds, hitting consecutive 3-pointers to make it 26-18 and open things up for Youtsey. He went off for eight points, including a pair of three point plays, in the closing minutes of the first half to bring his team to within 28-26 before Camden Griffith drove and scored to keep the Hawks ahead 30-26 at the half.
Landon Preston hit a guarded three from the right wing off a pass from Bo Eads to start the second half. Youtsey countered with a shot from the high post, but then Brayden Watkins, Winston's most physical player on defense, picked up his fourth foul trying to guard Camden Griffith. With Watkins out, both Griffith and Preston went off in the third quarter, with Preston scoring 9 and Griffith 6 in the period.
By the time Watkins came back in, the Hawks were up 41-30 before Evan Caldwell cut it to 41-33. A steal by Griffith led to a basket by Landon Preston and Preston took on the whole Redbird army and scored to make it 45-33 after three.
But it was only a matter of time before Winston started making their run. Gilman City led by as much as 49-36 after Camden Griffith got loose inside, but Levi Youtsey stepped outside and hit a 3-pointer to spark a big Redbird run. Youtsey struck again, going coast to coast to make it 49-41. Estrada hit a free throw and Kenyon Puls hit a 3-pointer to make it 53-43, but then Watkins hit a guarded NBA 3-pointer to make it 53-46 and spark another push by Winston. Watkins then stole the ball and scored and then Kaiden Martin, the fourth Redbird to hit a 3-pointer that night, nailed one to make it 53-51.
Landon Preston missed a runner; with Jace Estrada cramping up on the sideline, Winston had a golden opportunity to tie or take the lead, but Youtsey lost the ball out of bounds. Camden Griffith tried to take on Watkins to draw his fifth foul but got called for a charge. Instead of setting something up, Watkins pulled up and hit a 3-pointer, putting Winston up for the first time all night at 54-53.
But then a pair of inexplicable Winston miscues derailed their hopes in the last 1:01. First, one of the Redbird players, not realizing the change in the situation, fouled Landon Preston, who was automatic from the line and put Gilman City back in front 55-54. Youtsey lost the ball again out of bounds and Gilman City was into their delay game again, running it down from 57 seconds to 22 seconds despite Griffith slipping and falling at one point on the slick floor with 85 degree heat in the gym at that point. Despite Landon Preston cramping up and being swarmed by three red shirts, he managed to dribble out a big portion of the clock and was finally fouled with 22 seconds left, hitting both free throws to make it 57-54.
Winston fought back, setting up a perfect double screen to spring Watkins loose, and he hit a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left to tie it at 57. With Winston swarming Gilman City in the backcourt, the Hawks used their last timeout with 5.6 seconds left. They inbounded it to Preston, who was going nowhere and was bottled up with 4.8 seconds left well in his own backcourt. But another inexplicable miscue happened when Watkins fouled him trying to keep him from advancing, and Preston was automatic from the line once again, putting the Hawks in front 59-57.
The Redbirds rushed the ball up the floor with Youtsey taking a guarded three that would have won it. But it bounced off the back of the rim and the Hawks had completed their sweep of the HDC Tournament.
Camden Griffith had 22 points. Landon Preston had 20, Jace Estrada 10, and Kenyon Puls 7.
Camden Griffith had 2 blocks and Landon Preston 1.
Camden Griffith had 8 boards. Jace Estrada had 5, Kenyon Puls 3, Bo Eads and Parker Virtue 2, and Landon Preston 1.
Landon Preston got a career high 12 assists. Camden Griffith had 5, Bo Eads 2, and Kenyon Puls 1.
Kenyon Puls had 6 tips. Camden Griffith had 4 and Landon Preston and Jace Estrada 3.
Landon Preston had 8 steals. Camden Griffith had 5 and Bo Eads 1.
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