In a battle of two of the premier programs in the Chandler-Gilbert corridor, Hamilton High School went toe to toe with Mesquite High School in the semi-finals of the 20th Annual Mesa Fear The Hop Tournament, in what was featured as the Arizona Preps Game of the Night.
The Huskies and Wildcats traded back and forth. Ultimately, the first quarter ended in a tie, 13-13. Both teams used a scoring-by-committee approach. It seems that this semi-final game will be decided late in the second half.
In the second quarter, the Huskies started the second quarter with possession. The first field goal finally dropped at the 6:50 mark with Mesquite guard Jalen Wollangk slicing and dicing through the defense to drop in the layup. Hamilton’s Makai Taylor would answer back with a layup of his own, tying the game. Both teams employed stifling half court defenses to slow each other’s offensive rhythm. It was an exciting second quarter with Wildcats’ Kobe Bradley hitting a three, as time expired. The score was all tied up at 26-26.
To begin the third quarter, the Wildcats started with possession, but quickly turned it over. The Huskies struck first with a lay-in from Patrice Epo Mpouli. The Wildcats answered back with big man Jamar Trotter with a drop-step lay-in. Both teams would continue to trade basket for basket. Although the Wildcats compete in 4A and the Huskies compete in 6A, it gave me an East Valley rivalry feel throughout the game, as both teams were very familiar with each other. Ultimately the Huskies held a 45-42 lead.
The fourth quarter brought the same excitement of both teams playing tough defense. The first field goal was finally scored at the 5:19 mark with a layup from the Wildcats’ Wollangk - making it a 1 point game. With at least (5) lead changes, the game was all tied up in the final minute at 52 a piece.
In the closing seconds, Wollangk was fouled and hit both free throws, giving his team a 1-point lead with 3.1 seconds left. The Huskies burned a timeout to draw up a play to go 94 feet. As time expired, Epo Mpouli was fouled on the way up. The officials put .4 seconds back on the clock and Epo Mpouli ended up hitting both free throws, as the Huskies edged the Wildcats 57-56.
It would be a coming-out-party for Hamilton's 6-foot-1 senior guard Davion Harris (pictured left) would finish with a game high 21 points to lead Hamilton in the victory. Harris is the nephew of Hamilton Head Coach Doug Harris (pictured right).
Hamilton will advance to face host Mesa High School in the tournament final on Saturday evening, after Mesa blew out Dysart High School in the other semi-final game, 70-39.
