JOHN CURTIS - Daily Union Sports Editor
CHBC (23-4) and Altamont had played twice this season with each team winning one game. They met one more time, Thursday night, in the South Central1A Regional final. CHBC survived a challenge from the Indians to win the title by just two points, 53-51.
"Finally a regional championship to CHBC!" said CHBC coach Carolyn Wendte. "It's the first one ever. The girls never gave up. Altamont, again, had their physical defense, which bothered our offense. We came back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter with a little over 3 minutes to prevail."
Fab freshman Micah Jones, who has been averaging a double-double (10 points. 10 rebounds) most of the season. In the last week, she's had games of 24 and 19 points. In the biggest win of the season, a historic win, Jones was fab again. She not only had a game-high 24 points, again, but she made the game-winning shot to hand CHBC their first-ever regional title.
After CHBC charged back to erase a 10-point Altamont lead in the final 3:00, Altamont took a 1-point lead, 51-50. With 7 seconds remaining, Jones caught a long pass near the hoop and banked in the shot for the win.
CHBC devoured Altamont early in the season in the NTC tourney, 59-41. But in the regular season in Altamont, the defense-minded Indians upset CHBC for one of their four losses, 55-46. Jones led CHBC in that loss, but with just 13 points. She's grown up a bunch since then and they couldn't stop her.
They also had to deal with senior leader and NTC 1st round pick Hillary Shelton. Shelton score seven in the loss to Altamont in December. In this game she stepped up, when the younger players couldn't get past the Indian defense. Shelton used her maturity and strength to find a way to score five times from the floor, once from the arc.
Altamont stymied CHBC early, allowing just six points and holding a 2-point lead after one. CHBC was able to claw back and take a 2-point lead at the break, 19-17. Altamont was able to knot the score after three periods as the defenses began to loosen up. The Indians pulled away in the first half of the final frame to lead by ten, before the Hornets made their historic charge back to finally get a regional title. With all the great teams CHBC has had its hard to imagine that for one reason or another they couldn't break through until Thursday.
The next game is Tuesday night at the 1A Dieterich Sectional against the winner of the Neoga Regional to be played on Friday, between Neoga and Cumberland. CHBC beat Neoga twice this season, 59-48, and 73-61. CHBC beat Cumberland in their only meeting this season, 59-48, in Toledo.
South Central Regional Final
CHBC 53, Altamont 51
CHBC 6-13-16-18—53
Altam't 8-11-18-14—51
CHBC stats: Jones 24 (11 FGs, 2/5 FTs), Shelton 11 (4-2s, 1-3 pt FGs, 0/3 FTs), Faith Wendte 7 (1-2, 1-3 pt FGs, 2/2 FTs), Monica Gardner 5 (2 FGs, 1/3 FTs), Bailey Doty 2 (FG), Breeanna Strauch 2 (2/2 FTs), Emily Wheeler 2 (FG). Team FGs 22 (2-3 pt: Shelton, Wendte). Team FTs 7-of-17.
Alta stats: Seidel 14 (6 FGs, 2/5 FTs), Phillips 12 (2-2s, 2-3 pt FGs, 2/4 FTs), Zavoral 9 (2-2s, 1-3 pt FGs, 2/2 FTs), Spilker 7 (3 FGs, 1/2 FTs), Ziegler 7 (2-2s, 1-3 pt FGs), Childers 2 (FG). Team FGs 20 (4-3 pt: Phillips 2, Ziegler, Zavoral). Team FTs 7-of-15.
