Kapaun boys use big fourth quarter to beat Southeast
Timmy Hamilton could have stopped going by the first name his family used when he was a small child years ago, but what would have been the point?
If Hamilton, a Kapaun Mount Carmel junior, is interested in conveying an image that belies his velvety label, that is accomplished just through his physical appearance — 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds.
Hamilton goes further toward shedding anything infantile about him when he bruises opponents in the paint the way he did against Southeast on Tuesday.
Hamilton didn’t play in the first half but scored nine points and had five rebounds in the second, helping the Crusaders to a 61-47 win.
"Some people like (the name) Timmy because they think I’m soft," Hamilton said. "Deep down, I ain’t soft. Timmy or Tim, I get the job done."
After playing in the junior varsity game, Hamilton was eligible for two quarters during the main event.
When Hamilton entered in the third quarter, Kapaun coach John Cherne made Hamilton to sit next to him before he went in as he explained the Crusaders’ need to establish a post presence.
Hamilton was ready. Southeast scored 10 straight points to start the third, but Hamilton contributed to the comeback by scoring late in the quarter. In the fourth, he scored five points in the first two-and-a-half minutes.
"I trusted my teammates to help me out getting into the flow," Hamilton said. "When I got in there, they just hyped me up and said, ’Let’s go big boy, you can do it.’ It was big shoes to fill."
It didn’t seem that Hamilton’s services would be needed, as his physical play contradicts the pace of the first half. Kapaun built an eight-point second-quarter lead by keeping possessions as short as possible, driving to the lane to score or for kickouts leading to perimeter shots.
Southeast’s run to begin the second half allowed it to take a 39-32 lead, but when the Buffaloes started missing shots, Kapaun began to execute in the halfcourt. That’s where Hamilton’s presence became important.
"Basketball is peaks and valleys," Cherne said of Kapaun’s start to the second half. "It’s a matter of keeping those valleys short and real, real narrow."
Several Kapaun players chipped in as the Crusaders outscored Southeast 19-6 in the final quarter. They scored 11 straight points in one stretch, during which Hamilton had a basket.
His teammates were ribbing Hamilton when he drew attention for his stellar second half. But it was clear that it came from a foundation of respect. They now know there’s nothing "Timmy" about him.
"I love proving people wrong," Hamilton said. "I love it."
| Kapaun (9-9, 6-8) | 11 | 21 | 10 | 19 | — | 61 |
| Southeast (9-8, 6-7) | 13 | 16 | 12 | 6 | — | 47 |
KAPAUN MOUNT CARMEL: Hullings 3 1-2 8, Baxter 1 2-2 5, Martin 6 2-2 14, Cook 5 1-3 11, Hagan 2 1-2 5, Hamilton 3 3-5 9, Lickteig 0 1-4 1, Young 3 0-1 8. Totals 23 (4) 11-21 61.
SOUTHEAST: Garnes 3 0-0 6, Nolan 1 1-1 3, Oyugi 4 0-2 8, Gunter 6 0-2 12, Garland 4 1-1 9, Wright 2 0-0 4, Greene 2 1-3 5. Totals 22 (0) 3-9 47.