By Mike Myers, Sports Writer
For the Washington Hatchets, the path to another sectional championship on Saturday was as simple as a mathematical equation - No. 20 X three = six.
No, not 60 as the laws of multiplication dictate, but six, as in the number of consecutive sectional titles the Hatchets have now claimed after a 43-30 win over Jasper in the championship game of Sectional 31 at the Hatchet House.
The three comes from the third quarter, which Class 3A No. 6 Washington (19-3) dominated in downing their Big 8 brethren Jasper (12-11). With a slim 20-15 lead to begin the second half, the Hatchets started the third quarter with a flurry as WHS ran off eight straight points to start the quarter before Wildcat coach John Goebel was forced to call time less than four minutes into the half with his team trailing 28-15.
In all, Washington outscored Jasper 18-3 in the third quarter to take a 36-18 lead into the final eight minutes of play. And the 20 in the equation — as in jersey No. 20 — came in the form sophomore guard Dylan Ervin, who scored eight of his 10 points in the third quarter, including a pair of 3-point daggers, to help put the Hatchets in the driver’s seat for another sectional crown.
On a night when the Hatchets didn’t shoot the ball well (37 percent from the field) coach Gene Miiller’s team used its defense to take over the game in third quarter.
“We put a little more pressure on and forced some turnovers, then hit some shots,” Miiller said of the third quarter outburst. “We struggled early and they hit some big threes. But we came out in the third quarter and Dylan hit some big shots for us, he hit a couple of three’s and a two. I think he may have scored eight straight points for us. That was big, it gave us a little spurt.
“Our defense played well throughout whole sectional,” said Miiller. “Defensively, we did an excellent job against both teams we played.”
Ervin added three rebounds, two blocked shots, and two steals for WHS. Junior center Cody Zeller once again endured a pounding inside from the always physical Wildcats but still led all scorers with 13 points and pulled down a game high 15 rebounds.
“I knew it was going to be physical, they’ve got really nice, big post players. We knew from the first game that it was going to be a tough game,” said Zeller. “Like last night, the defense got to them, the we got out on the break and extended the lead. Coach told us at halftime that we had to get out defensively.”
Sam Gines, one of four Hatchet seniors along with Ethan Hunsinger, Robert Miles, and Derek Singleton who never saw Washington drop a sectional contest during their high school careers, scored six points and handed out five assists. Gines, a starter as a sophomore on Washington’s 2008 state title team, said he and his fellow seniors wanted to make sure the sectional championship streak was handed down intact to the next class.
“This is six straight and obviously we didn’t want to be the ones to end that streak,” said Gines. “Man, I love it, the tradition here, to be a part of it is amazing. My teammates are awesome, and it’s fun.”
Junior guard Kurtis Anthony added seven points and four assists, while junior forward Robert Pittman scored seven points and pulled down eight rebounds.
Luke Rogers led Jasper with nine points, followed by Adam Knies with eight.
Washington will face No. 10 Corydon Central (19-5) in the first game of the Washington Regional on Saturday. Eighth-ranked Sullivan (23-2) will square off against No. 11 Boonville (18-5) in the second game.
