Short-handed Thomas Jefferson built an early 10-point cushion to set the pace before pulling away down the stretch to a 76-51 win over Rich Hill in the Class 1 District 7 semifinals on Tuesday.
“I am very proud of them,” Thomas Jefferson coach Chris Myers said. “It’s district time, there isn’t going to be an easy one. I thought the kids came out with fantastic energy tonight. We were able to build a little bit of a lead and maintain it there the rest of the way. When the fourth quarter comes, that’s where it’s at this time of year. You have to finish in the fourth quarter, and I thought our kids did a great job of that.”
NEXT MAN UP
The No. 1-seeded Cavaliers opened district play without one of their top playmakers—junior guard Caden Myers, who suffered a knee injury in the season finale against Verona.
“I thought the kids really stepped up,” Coach Myers said of his team’s ability to fight for a win without Caden Myers. “Noah Hamlett moved right into the starting role and hit the opening 3 to start the game, really sparking us there. Tyler Brouhard came back (after missing some time) and played phenomenal minutes for us. I really thought it was a good team effort and a good team win. That is what you want this time of year.”
GAME ACTION
Despite the loss of Caden Myers, Thomas Jefferson opened the district contest with a 12-2 to run against the fourth-seeded Tigers on the way to building a 24-9 advantage by the end of the first quarter.
“Obviously, you want to come out with energy,” Coach Myers said. “And your team should come out with energy this time of year. If you don’t there is no tomorrow.”
Noah Hamlett got the scoring started with a 3-pointer before Dhruv Gheewala grabbed an offensive rebound for a putback score to push the lead to 5-0. Jay Ball scored in the paint and added the and-one free throw to make the score 9-2 before Drew Goodhope closed the run with a 3-ball in the corner off the assist from Gheewala to push the lead to 12-2 with 4:43 to play.
Tyler Brouhard added a 3-pointer later in the quarter, with Gheewala and Ball closing out the period with buckets for the Cavaliers.
Rich Hill cut the lead to 10 with less than four minutes to play in the first half after an inside score from Daylan Black and two free throws from Blake Lanning, but Thomas Jefferson pushed the lead to 11 at the break, 39-28, thanks to a 3-pointer from Goodhope.
Rich Hill started the second half with the momentum, scoring the first seven points — highlighted by a 3-pointer from Clifton Bridgewater — to trim TJ’s lead to 39-35 near the four-minute mark.
“Composure,” Coach Myers said when asked what the message to his team was after Rich Hill’s fast start in the third quarter. “It’s a long season. We have been in all of these situations. That’s why you play the whole season. We just needed to stay composed and stick with what got us here.”
Thomas Jefferson answered back quickly with back-to-back 3-pointers from Goodhope to push the lead back to double digits, 47-37, with less than three minutes to play.
The Cavaliers took a nine-point lead into the final eight minutes, with Thomas Jefferson’s defense being the catalyst down the stretch. The fourth opened with the Cavaliers getting a block that turned into a runout from Gheewala to push the lead to double digits.
Moments later, Kelsey Attteberry came up with a block, and it again turned into a Gheewala score on the break near the six-minute mark to give Thomas Jefferson a 58-46 advantage, which jump started a 14-3 surge by the Cavaliers to close out the win. Thomas Jefferson didn’t allow a field goal in the run, limiting Rich Hill to three free throws.
“Going into the fourth quarter, that is what we talked about,” Coach Myers said. “We were eight minutes away from playing for a district championship. I told them there is no excuse here. You leave it all on the court. Every loose ball, every rebound is ours. There is no 50-50 ball, every one of them is ours. I thought our kids took that attitude out on the court and really made it show.”
SCORING LEADERS
Gheewala led Thomas Jefferson with a game-high 23 points, while Goodhope finished with 19. Ball also scored in double figures with 13 points, while Noah Hamlett finished with nine points.
Magal Chol-Case had 16 to lead Rich Hill.
UP NEXT
Top-seeded Thomas Jefferson will take on second-seeded McAuley Catholic in the Class 1 District 7 title game at 8 p.m. on Friday at Lamar High School.
