GBB SECT. 40: 2A #5 Oak Hill gets revenge on 2A #8 Taylor, 60-48

CONVERSE – It was the way it is supposed to be Feb. 15. A standing-room-only crowd braved a snowy Monday night and packed the Oak Hill gymnasium for the Sectional 40 championship showdown between 2A eighth-ranked Taylor and the 2A No. 5 host Oak Hill Golden Eagles. 

The atmosphere harkened back to the heyday of “Hoosier Hysteria,” and the game did not disappoint. Oak Hill prevailed, 60-48, in a contest that was far closer than the final score would indicate. 

In the process, the Golden Eagles avenged a 70-67 loss to the Titans in triple overtime Nov. 17.

While this contest had a little of everything, it will be remembered for the spectacular personal shootout between Oak Hill’s Miss Basketball candidate, Courtney Moses, and Taylor’s sharp-shooting Shelby Wall. 

Moses poured in a game-high 32 points including a 15-point explosion in the second quarter. Wall responded with 29 points, 22 coming in the second half to lead a Taylor rally that all in attendance sitting on the edge of their seats until the final two minutes.

Oak Hill (20-3) set the tone for this one very early. The Golden Eagles manufactured four steals in the game’s first two minutes to help carve out a lightning-quick 10-2 advantage. Taylor then did what the Titans do best; shoot the 3-pointer. 

The Titans (20-4) hit five long-distance bombs in the opening eight minutes to reach a 17-17 tie at the end of one period.

The second quarter brought the deciding stage of this struggle. Oak Hill put the clamps on Wall, letting her have little room to breathe, let alone shoot. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles revved up their transition game and exploded on an 18-0 run that occupied most of the quarter. 

Taylor did not score for the first six and a half minutes of the period. When Moses hit a trey at the buzzer, Oak Hill galloped to the locker room with a 38-20 halftime margin and seemingly a sectional championship in the pockets.

Moses had done it all in that second stanza. She scored 15 of her 20 first-half points, sliced the Titans in transition, and helped to limit Wall to just seven markers. Senior center Ashley Pickering was dominating the boards, and the Golden Eagles seemed invincible.

Taylor had to make some changes, and 17th-year coach Dennis Bentzler chose all the right ones during intermission. The Titans adjusted defensively to stop Oak Hill’s devastating running game and worked even harder to spring Wall in the final two quarters. The adjustments started to pay dividends midway through the third period. 

Suddenly, Oak Hill could not get transition opportunities, and the Golden Eagles’ offense stymied in the half court. Meanwhile, Wall found cracks in the defense and heated up for 10 third-quarter points. 

The comeback was gradual, but by the end of the period the Titans were back within 11 at 45-34. Entering the final eight minutes, Moses had 24 points and Wall 17.

The stagnation of Oak Hill’s offense reached critical levels in the early minutes of the fourth quarter. With 5:20 remaining, Taylor had cut the advantage to eight. The Golden Eagles then committed four straight turnovers trying to slow the tempo. 

With 2:54 remaining, the lead was just six at 48-42. With Wall in full assassination mode, the capacity crowd was nervous to say the least. No fear – the hometown hero came to the rescue. 

Moses got a steal and bucket, then added two free throws to put the Golden Eagles back up by 10 and effectively seal the verdict.

Wall fouled out in the game’s final minute and, as she walked from the floor, the majority of the crowd from both sides gave her a standing ovation. Her exit brought to a final conclusion a rivalry that has done more for small school girls basketball than anything we have seen in years. 

When Hoosier Authority spoke with Moses after the game, her respect for her long-time foe was evident. 

The Golden Eagles, the defending 2A state runner-up, will now move on to face another familiar opponent in the regional: 12th-ranked Fort Wayne Luers (15-7). Oak Hill has defeated the five-time state champion in the regional championship the last two seasons but this time will get Luers in the opening round Feb. 20 at Cass.

The winner will face either No. 6 Wabash (22-1) or Carroll (Flora) (18-4) in Saturday night’s title game.

Game 1 – Taylor 68, Tipton 50

Game 2 – Eastern (Greentown) 47, Guerin Catholic 38

Game 3 – Oak Hill 72, Sheridan 32

Game 4 – Taylor 66, Madison-Grant 44

Game 5 – Oak Hill 76, Eastern (Greentown) 45

Championship – Oak Hill 60, Taylor 48