Inside game lifts Jets to victory

SHELBYVILLE — First-year Hauser coach Nate Cangany knows that to win a sectional title, his team will have to be proficient from around the basket.

In Wednesday night’s first round of the Southwestern (Shelby) Sectional, the Jets were every bit that in a 68-48 victory against Waldron.

"We knew that to win a sectional, we were going to have to start by playing inside-out," Cangany said. "Tonight, there was really no need to go out because the inside game was pretty dominant. That has to be our identity the rest of the way, as many days as we’re given this season."

The Jets (11-13) advance to play Class A No. 9 Oldenburg Academy in Friday’s second semifinal at around 7:30 p.m.

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On Wednesday, Hauser used a decided height advantage with 6-foot-6 junior Trey Johnson and 6-4 senior Sean Miller. Johnson scored a career-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Jets.

"My team did a great job getting me the ball," Johnson said. "We just had to calm down and slow the game down and just let the game come to us."

Miller added 12 points for Hauser, with most of them coming in the paint.

"That was part of the game plan," Miller said. "Coach ‘C’ emphasized getting the ball inside. We had a couple of mismatches early on, and then as guys got in foul trouble throughout the game, we were able to go in there even more."

Hauser jumped out to a 7-0 lead a little more than two minutes into the game. But then the Mohawks (1-21) came back to take a 12-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

"In sectional games, teams are going to make runs," Cangany said. "We knew they were going to make a run, and our guys, this is their first year of playing varsity basketball. We just explained to them, ‘We know you guys haven’t been in this situation before. Don’t be surprised when they make a run. Just stop that run, play defense, get good possessions on offense and make your own run."

The Jets did that. After the game was tied at 15-15, they closed the first half on an 11-2 run to take a 26-17 lead at the break.

"Coach ‘C’ said every team is going to have their run at some point," Miller said. "They had their run early, and we were just able to stay persistent throughout."

Waldron was within 35-27 midway through the third quarter before Hauser went on a 16-3 run — bookended by baskets from Will Trotter — to take a 51-30 lead with 6 1/2 minutes left in the game. The Jets led by as many as 22 midway through the fourth quarter.

Hauser outrebounded Waldron 32-17.

"When (the Mohawks) made their run, I thought we did a pretty decent job of stopping it," Cangany said. "The second, half, we really got going, but it started with our defense, and then we continued it by pounding the ball inside. We got drives to the basket, but we also got post touches for our big guys, and that was kind of our game plan tonight offensively — make sure we’re shooting from five feet and in."