hillcrest-boys-bball-team

Whenever the Hillcrest Academy boys basketball team visits Pekin, make sure you’ve got a ticket or the recorder running, you won’t want to miss it. Friday was no exception as the Raven boys came from 10 down in the first half to win in overtime 60-59 in Packwood. The Panthers had the better of it early, starting the game on a 15-5 run and leading 30-20 at half. The second half saw the Ravens roar out of the locker room on a 17-0 run that allowed them to build their own 10 point lead in the fourth quarter. Aiden Krabill, Luke Schrock and Seth Ours all knocked down clutch shots in the stretch. Pekin battled back, with the Panthers closing the margin to a pair in the final minute of regulation. After a one of two trip to the line, Hillcrest held a three point advantage with six seconds to go. Panther shooting guard Chandler Stull drilled a 22 footer at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.

In the extra session, the two teams continued to trade punches until the final minute when, down 59-58, Hillcrest went inside to Grant Bender who connected on a layup to put the Ravens up one. The Hillcrest defense made it stand up at the other end as a desperation heave from Stull came up short. After the game, Hillcrest head coach Dwight Gingerch talked about the team win and contributions from the full roster. “The guys are really excited. We have had some injuries and things to deal with, even tonight with Noah Miller getting hurt early, it really forced other guys to step up. Luke Schrock, Aiden Krabill, Aiden is really a great floor leader out there. Josiah Beachy played well. Seth Ours did a great job in making some plays. Things worked out. We drew up the play for the winning basket, and they executed it. Grant Bender had sealed his guy and then it was a great pass from Luke inside. Grant had a tremendous finish, maybe even used his outside hand in that situation, which was a thing of beauty.”

Bender put in a game high 26 points. The number is significant because his dad, and Hillcrest assistant coach, Stephen Bender scored 26 in an overtime game at Pekin, 25 years before, to the day. Ours and Schrock each had a dozen. Hillcrest is now 5-1 on the season

In the girls contest Pekin started fast and the Ravens closed late, but it wasn’t enough as Hillcrest fell 36-21. Pekin sprinted out to a 14-2 run at the end of the first quarter on four first frame threes. The lead stood at 19-8 at half. A 13-4 run for the Lady Panthers out of the locker room stretched their advantage to 32-12 going to the fourth. Hillcrest started the final period on an 8-0 run, holding Pekin without a point for seven minutes, but time ran out on the comeback. Esther Hughes led Hillcrest with 14 points. The Raven girls are now 1-7 this year. Hillcrest wraps up the pre-Christmas portion of the schedule Tuesday when they host Highland for alumni night.