CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As an undersized team, much of East Hardy’s success stems from its ability to disrupt opponents defensively and play well on the perimeter.
Fortunately for the No. 3 seed Cougars, both facets were on display Wednesday in a Class A quarterfinal against No. 6 Cameron.
East Hardy made 9-of-21 three-pointers and scored half of its points off 27 Dragon turnovers in a 60-50 victory at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.
“There’s a rule in the gym that if you’re open, you have to shoot it,” Cougars’ head coach Chris Hahn said. “We’ve always been a smaller school and we’re a bunch of 5-foot-7 and 5-8 guards. Some years, those guards are really fast and some years, they’re not. You have to be able to be an offensive threat or otherwise we’re at a real disadvantage. These guys have embraced that.”
The Cougars (20-3) made five first-half triples on 15 attempts, before reducing their volume, but increasing their efficiency over the final two quarters. Perhaps the most important East Hardy 3 came with 4:05 remaining when Nate Smith connected from the top of the key off an Evan Hamilton assist, allowing the Cougars to double what had been a 46-43 advantage.
“It was a pretty sloppy play and somebody kicked it out. Got the wide open look and knocked it down,” Smith said. “Felt good.”
Smith then came up with one of the Cougars’ 19 steals and found Jordan Teets for what proved to be East Hardy’s final field goal, leaving the Dragons (20-6) facing a 52-43 deficit.
“Those were two key baskets right there,” Cameron head coach Tom Hart said.
Cameron got back to within six on a Cuyler McCauley triple, but the Cougars made 8-of-12 free throws over the final 1:44 to maintain their distance and move on.
The result gives the Cougars their first state tournament win and sends East Hardy to a semifinal against Tug Valley, a 56-42 winner over Doddridge County, on Friday at 7:15 p.m.
Cameron made half of its six field-goal attempts and all six free throws during the opening quarter as the Cougars outscored the Dragons 9-0 from behind the arc during that time to build a 14-12 lead.
Layups from Colin Magers and Trey Estel allowed Cameron to go in front by two 27 seconds into the second quarter, but Teets countered with two treys in less than 2 minutes as part of an 8-0 East Hardy spurt.
Cameron answered with eight straight points, utilizing a Colson Wichterman 3 and five points from Mason Scott to regain the lead. A Teets jumper and two free throws from older brother J.W. Teets allowed East Hardy to lead 26-24 at halftime.
While Cameron went to the intermission having made 8-of-16 shots and with a 12-2 edge in paint points, the Cougars had 17 points off 18 Dragon turnovers.
“We did cut it down, but that first half, they scored 17 points off turnovers,” Hart said. “That did play a huge role.”
“Evan and Mason (Hamilton) at the top of that press is a nightmare for anybody to have to play against,” Hahn said. “Their speed is just crazy. Our team speed is probably one of our biggest strengths. Staying in front of guys and forcing some tough passes is the difference for us.”
Evan Hamilton and McCauley traded triples to start the second-half scoring, leaving the Cougars with their two-point lead.
East Hardy then scored 10 of the next 12 points to create separation and settled for a 41-34 advantage after three quarters. Hamilton scored seven points in the third and Jordan Teets added six of his game-high 26 during the frame.
Jordan Teets shot 10 for 17, including 5 of 9 on threes.
“It was nice being able to hit shots,” he said. “I’ve had games where I’ve shot 10, 12% and being able to shoot above 50% was amazing.”
Hamilton made 8-of-11 free throws in a 16-point performance with four steals, while J.W. Teets added 19 points and six steals.
Cameron shot 50% (19 for 38).
Lance Hartley battled foul trouble, but led Cameron with 11 points. Wichterman scored nine, Colton Winters added eight and had a team-high six rebounds to help the Dragons win the rebounding battle, 28-17.
“One thing we got better at as the season went on,” Hart said, “was rebounding on both ends of the floor.”