Hauser coach Trent Moorhead gives final instructions to his team prior to tipoff in Saturday’s South Ripley Sectional final. The Jets fell to Switzerland County 58-57.
Ted Schultz | The Republic
VERSAILLES — One night after coming up with a defensive stop in the closing seconds to hang on for a one-point sectional semifinal win at South Ripley, Hauser couldn’t quite get that stop in the final seconds of Saturday’s championship game.
Camdin Craig made an 8-footer in the lane with 1.8 seconds remaining to give Switzerland County a 58-57 lead. He was fouled on the play and missed the free throw intentionally, and the Jets’ desperation heave at the buzzer was off the mark.
“It’s a tough one to lose,” Hauser coach Trent Moorhead said. “You just felt like down the stretch of that game, they made one more play than we did, and sometimes, that’s the way it goes.”
The Jets (18-7) led for all but 20 seconds of the first half and all but the final 1.8 seconds of the second half. They led by as many as seven in the first half and led by six four different times in the fourth quarter, the last with three minutes remaining.
Hauser still led 57-53 after a pair of free throws by Ledger Gelfius with 26 seconds remaining. But Craig hit a long 3-pointer with 21 second left to cut the lead to one.
The Jets then turned the ball over on the inbounds pass, and the Pacers (15-10) worked the ball to Craig, who hit the game-winner.
“I was so proud of the fight that our guys showed,” Moorhead said. “This result is not for a lack of effort by anyone in our group. They showed incredible fight that entire game, this entire weekend. They fought their tails off to get in position to win a sectional championship, and unfortunately, Switzerland County made one more play than we did and credit goes to them for getting the result they got.”
Hauser’s loss didn’t come because of a lack of free-throw shooting. The Jets went 12 of 13 from the line, including 9 of 10 in the fourth quarter.
“I was proud of our free-throw shooting in the fourth quarter,” Moorhead said. “That’s been a bugaboo for us all season long, but for us to step up to the line and make clutch free throw after clutch free throw, it makes me so proud of the guys. It makes me hurt even more for them.”
Held scoreless through three quarters, Gelfius hit three 3-pointers in the fourth and finished with 12 points to lead Hauser. Stryker Gill and Kam Blair each scored 11 points and joined Gelfius on the All-Sectional Team.
Taeshaun Tungate and Gavin Keller each added nine points. Tungate grabbed six rebounds, and Alex Cord had five to lead the Jets to a 28-23 advantage on the boards.
“(Gelfius) made some huge shots to keep us in the lead and extending the lead,” Moorhead said. “He made some big free throws. I thought Kameron Blair battled all night long with Cam Craig. That’s a tough assignment, and he fought his tail off against him. Balanced scoring is what makes us so dangerous, and it’s why we were in this game tonight.”
Switzerland County’s Jacob Williams led all scorers with 24 points, including a 3-pointer from just inside half-court to end the first half. Craig added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Pacers.
“Cam Craig had a tremendous game,” Moorhead said. “He made some big-time shots, and that’s what big-time players do. Jake Williams had a huge fourth quarter and made a lot of big free throws for them.”
Switzerland County’s win avenges a 53-42 loss to Hauser in December. That was one of 18 wins for the Jets this year, their most since the 2007-08 season.
“What I told the guys in the locker room is, this is a unique situation because every single guy that you saw out on the floor tonight will be back next year representing Hauser,” Moorhead said. “We know that they’re going to have an incredible offseason. We’re going to work really hard, and we’re going to make sure that this fuels us as we propel into 2024-25.
“It’s just been an incredible season with these guys, and to do it with all the sophomores and juniors that we have, I told them tonight’s result doesn’t take away from the outstanding season they had,” he added. “They’re champions of the (Mid-Hoosier) conference, they’re (Edinburgh) holiday tournament champions. Beyond that, they are fantastic kids with high character. They get along. I just enjoy being around them so much. I feel so lucky to be coaching them We’ll look back and be proud of the season that we had and know that we have more to accomplish in the future.”
Switzerland County 58, Hauser 57
Hauser;8;16;13;20;—;57
Switzerland County;4;18;9;27;—;58
Hauser (18-7): Alex Cord 1 0-0 2, Taeshaun Tungate 3 3-3 9, Ledger Gelfius 3 3-4 12, Stryker Gill 4 0-0 11, Gavin Keller 3 2-2 9, Kam Blair 3 4-4 11, Jake Barriger 0 0-0 0, Waylon Harper 1 0-0 3. Totals: 18 12-13 57.
Switzerland County (15-10): Jacob Williams 7 7-9 24, Cooper Todd 1 2-2 4, Bradley Romans 1 0-0 3, Canaan Johnson 1 0-2 2, Kadyn Riley 4 0-0 10, Camdin Craig 5 2-3 15. Totals: 19 11-16 58.
3-point goals: Hauser 9 (Gelfius 3, Gill 3, Keller, Blair, Harper); Switzerland County 9 (Williams 3, Craig 3, Riley 2, Romans).
