Hillsboro and Eureka Punch Tickets to 64th Annual Gene Steighorst Invitational Championship Saturday on KJFF.
(HILLSBORO) In the 64th Annual Gene Steighorst Invitational semifinals tonight on KJFF, the Hillsboro Hawks handled their business with a 75-66 victory over the Windsor Owls while the Eureka Wildcats squeaked out a 68-66 victory in overtime over the Central Rebels.
In the Hillsboro-Windsor game, the Owls went down 12-0 to start the game and then were able to take a 33-31 lead on Hillsboro at the break behind 17 first-half points from Norman Alford. The Hawks then responded well in the 3rd quarter to go up 56-50 heading into the 4th.
It was the 4th quarter that Hillsboro’s big man Evan Worley stepped up to help finish off the Owls.
Hawks head coach Dan Johnson was complimentary of Evan Worley and his time on the floor.
Hillsboro advanced to the championship with the 75-66 win over Windsor.
In the following semifinal game that went to overtime between 2-seed Central and 3-seed Eureka, there were several unreal moments towards the end of regulation as the Rebels were able to erase a 13-point deficit. We take you to one of those moments when the Rebels trailed 57-55.
Right afterward, Eureka’s Luke Laudel had his shining moment.
McMullen then later knocked down a pair of free throws to tie the game at 60 and force overtime. In the overtime period, junior Trace Ruckman came off the bench and secured the lead for good for the Wildcats.
Eureka head coach Austin Kirby talks about Ruckman and that shot in overtime.
The 68-66 overtime victory for the Eureka Wildcats puts them in the championship of the 64th Annual Gene Steighorst Invitational to face the top-seed and host, Hillsboro Hawks. This is a rematch of last year’s final that Eureka won 57-54. Pregame coverage of the 64th Gene Steighorst championship will begin tomorrow at 5:15 with a 5:30 tip on AM 1400 KJFF.
Hillsboro Dan Johnson Post
Eureka Austin Kirby Post
Windsor Jason Gillman Post
Hillsboro 75 Windsor 66 Game Audio
Eureka 68 Central 66 Game Audio