AAAAAA boys: Hillgrove 56, Wheeler 54
When Jerron Love’s jumper didn’t fall, the celebration for Hillgrove began.
Kyle Castlin scored 20 points to help the Hawks barely held off No. 7 Wheeler when Love’s shot at the buzzer hit the front of the rim, giving No. 5 Hillgrove a 56-54 win in the Class AAAAAA semifinals.
This will be Hillgrove’s first trip to the state finals. Wheeler failed in its bid for a sixth state title under coach Doug Lipscomb.
The Hawks (27-4) never trailed after a 15-2 run spanning the third and fourth quarters gave them a 47-39 lead, but it was certainly close, particularly when Wheeler scored 7 straight to make it 49-48 with 3:23 left.
But Hillgrove had just enough gas in the tank, hitting 5 of 8 free throws, including 1 of 2 from Keith Ray with 6.1 seconds left that set up Love’s final attempt.
On that play, the key for Hillgrove was to protect from a loss at all costs. No threes. No easy baskets.
“Just don’t give up a three,” Hillgrove coach Ed Morris said. “If they go and they score two, worst-case scenario is we go into overtime. Don’t let him make a three to win it. We were fortunate that he stepped up and took a two.”
The long jumper was on line but just short, and there wasn’t enough time for a second attempt for Wheeler (21-9).
Prior to that, Love had another chance to tie the game, standing at the line with 9.3 seconds remaining after being fouled going for a layup.
He missed the first and made the second, and the Wildcats were forced to foul.
The Hawks likely never would have been in that position if not for Castlin, who made three 3-pointers and scored 12 of his game-high 20 points in the second half.
A junior small forward, Castlin has emerged as a leader on a team that has only lost four games.
“What I love about him is, he doesn’t force the game; he doesn’t force shots,” Morris said, of Castlin. “He just lets the game come to him.”
His biggest stretch was during the key 15-2 run, when he scored 7 straight Hillgrove points to close the third quarter, sending the game into the fourth quarter tied 39-39.
Elijah Staley had a team-high 13 points for Wheeler. Jordan Sexton came off the bench to add 17 points for the Hawks.
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159 comments Add your comment
JohnJ
March 3rd, 2013
11:14 am
That’s sweet I’m a big Hoya fan, if he has got a relative on the team maybe he will go to geortown that would be big for cobb county basketball
only a matter of time
March 3rd, 2013
11:19 am
black wheeler parent…you come on here dogging the guard play on your son’s team and you get upset when someone gives you some unbiased constructive criticism of your boy’s game??? Your kid is nice. Football and basketball he has been blessed with the stuff you can’t coach and that’s size. Now if his daddy would show him how to work on his game and teach him to out work his opponents night in and night out he might be on to something. if his daddy would only learn about not blaming everyone in the building following a tough loss then your kid will learn some life lessons that will serve him well beyond the court or football field. look your kid has to learn that he’s not going to win every game he plays. some nights are going to go better than others. sometimes in life you will lose at something that maybe you are not supposed to. the coach is not going to make all the right moves, his teammates are going to have off nights, it’s part of the game.
(black) wheeler parent
March 3rd, 2013
11:32 am
@Only a matter of time you have my email. You dont know nothing about what I teach my son. Watch him play before you talk trash. Everybody at Wheeler knows we have Guard issues. and WE often discuss it. I didnt say nothing that hasnt or wasnt being said already. If you watched the game and you know basketball, you seen it with your own eyes. Do your son even get in the game? Im just asking cause you are a hater. email me and come and meet me and lets talk. in person. Dont hide behind your handle and dog a kid that you know nothing about.. be a man homie..
JohnJ
March 3rd, 2013
11:38 am
Which kid is pat Ewing nephew? Is he any good like Pat?
Pls
March 3rd, 2013
11:38 am
@black wheeler parent I understand who you are. Thanks for transparency. But pls be clear when u say wheeler guards are horrible. Pls b specific. I have a guad on wheeler and if u say his name I will email you for a match up in 1 min.
(black) wheeler parent
March 3rd, 2013
11:48 am
@Only a matter of time I dont fist fight either. I say what I say and everybody knows who I am. My kid handles his business on and off the court. So if I choose to put him out there, thats on me. Everybody that knows me, know I dont bite my tongue. One thing I dont do is talk behind folks back about there kid. IF I did, I would use a handle and not my name like every other COWARD on this blog does. You wanna talk but you dont wanna be known. Thats a Coward move. I DONT RESPECT COWARDS.
Black n Blue parent
March 3rd, 2013
11:50 am
Wheeler has 3 guards, jB, smoke and red head kid.
(black) wheeler parent
March 3rd, 2013
11:54 am
@pls Horrible was a little harsh. sorry for that. I was heated at the moment when I TWEETED that. but our point gaurds made terrible choices. and at criticle times. If your son is a PG. Email me and Ill give you my number and we can talk b-ball.
Pls
March 3rd, 2013
12:01 pm
No need to mentioning names, bc u directly insulting a group, guards. Now someone is going to insult the bigs. Not just let u attack. Then there’s going to b huge blow over (the battle on youtube/courtcred.com) n kids going to transfer while proving u wrong as hillgrove did and u going to say oh I was just talking bball, i don’t fist fight. Cool, me neither. But. Some live n die hoops. So it’s normal to smash ur kid n then leave scene bc frankly ur an embarrassment to wheeler guards/ parents. N u play by yourself next yr n with ur new guards. Selfish ass. Take your L like a man and tackle things again next yr.
(black) wheeler parent
March 3rd, 2013
12:04 pm
Avery & JB aint PG. and we have 3 more gaurds. jerron, Tim and Trevon. Tim and Trevon dont handle the ball that much.
(black) wheeler parent
March 3rd, 2013
12:11 pm
@Pls here we go blog talking again.. put your name up or email me. If you go back thru the blogs of past, when My son and Daniel mess up I get on them too.. My son gets it at home! No need in being pissed at me. email me.. lol Im not the only one that talk about the gaurd play. EVERYBODY DOES
U Not Ready
March 3rd, 2013
12:23 pm
Which one you want to battle Jerron, Jerron or Jerron?
Huh
March 3rd, 2013
12:46 pm
Who is jerron? Is that the won who hit the two deep 3’s or the won who jacked up the quick three towards the end of the game when wheeler was down by 2
crimson
March 3rd, 2013
1:11 pm
I’m thinking the current recruiting class that Wheeler has it’s eyes on are probably looking elsewhere now…..if they read this blog they certainly won’t go to wheeler next season. I’m telling you all, Wheeler guards played just as hard as every other kids out there. Hillgrove defense protected the basket with good DEFENSE. Amazing someone who claims to be all about knowing basketball wants to blame his kid’s teammate. Sometimes you need to know when to stop and shut up.
HoopNews
March 3rd, 2013
1:12 pm
Reports said Jerron shot was straight but hit rim tip. Wheeler coaches and staff should be ashamed their parents are pulling down players in order to try pull self up. Crabs in a barrel.
Cousin Josh
March 3rd, 2013
1:22 pm
You Wheeler guys should together direct your criticism to the coaching staff, not one to the Bigs and the other to the Guards.
No inconsistency in what I said at all. You’re just not digging deeo enough. Go back to reviewing McEachern football tapes from the 90s.
Cousin Josh
March 3rd, 2013
1:23 pm
The second statement was for @OMacG
I know
March 3rd, 2013
1:45 pm
Pat does have a kid on Wheeler! There is a troll on this board call him his kid LMAO
JohnJ
March 3rd, 2013
1:45 pm
Will someone please tell me who pat Ewing nephew or son is,, I got a georgtown jersey I would like to get signed
LongtimeCobbbasketballer
March 3rd, 2013
1:50 pm
Clearly the best TEAM won last night. That should tell you which COACH was the best. All of Cobb knows that Lipscomb wins because of the endless transfers. So this begs the question is he a great basketball coach or just a great recruiter to his program. This roster is no different. #14 is a nomad. When mommy and daddy are dis-satisfied they just find another place for play(read black Wheeler parent’s comments). #14 has lived in the Harrison, Kennesaw Mountian, North Cobb, and Wheeler school district in the last six years. The Hillgrove players have been in the program for five, six and seven years. Their coach has built a program through hard work and loyalty. In an era where coaches win championships(wheeler, milton, and norcross) with all-star transfers it is no small feat what Hillgrove accomplished last night. I do not know if Hillgrove will beat Norcross. I do know that it is refreshing to see a great TEAM work together and compete against the aforementioned all-star teams that have been allowed to dominate the last 8-10 years of Georgia’s highest classification.
Congratulations Coach Ed Morris and the entire Hillgrove TEAM
forrealtho
March 3rd, 2013
1:53 pm
Wheeler has had problems with the PG play all year. The SMOAK kid in particular. You guys can say what you want. You have to know the ins and outs to blog with the truth. @black wheeler parent is just calling it like it is.They didnt use their main weapons and the coach didnt make them. jerron .. basketball is a TEAM SPORT not 1 on . Dude. All teams have problems and parent gripes. At Hillgrove they say Kyle is a ball hog.. Samething at Nort Cobb with Steele. I can go on but I wont. bottom line. a lot of you are just pissed and jealous that your kid dont play or START!! I know all about the Wheeler Pg feud.. lol
Smitty
March 3rd, 2013
1:58 pm
Reading all the recent updates…sounds to me like someone is a little angry…possibly his son should take up an individual sport so that he will not be able to blame others for the team loss…I don’t know which kid is your…it really doesn’t matter…possibly instead of looking for a reason why Wheeler lost…praise the boys for their hard work and teach them a life lesson.
@BLACK
March 3rd, 2013
1:58 pm
You the same guy who must have ran your best receiver off in football. You said the kid cant catch, dropped to many of your sons td passes. You a joke!!!!!!!!!! Glad that receiver is at Hillgrove he is a true BEAST.
Run them Point Guards off they can come to Hillgrove next year as well. Remember KARMA is a Bit#h!!!
Ok
March 3rd, 2013
2:00 pm
What Pg feud??? Tell us. If anything you’ll b one to hit a brick wall!
@JohnJ
March 3rd, 2013
2:05 pm
Ask Black he can get that signed right away he is very close to them.
zac
March 3rd, 2013
2:06 pm
Black Wheeler parent please make me understand why u would waste your time on this blog trying to explain yourself to all these people about how the guards didnt do this or they didnt do that for the team when these are just kids trying to play a game they love! you r obviously past your playing days let the kids get on here and vent if they want they played the game u didnt! The coaches r to blame period that should be the end of it.
What PG fued?
March 3rd, 2013
2:08 pm
Can you explain and please be clear. Thank you.
Because hes a clown
March 3rd, 2013
2:09 pm
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
forrealtho
March 3rd, 2013
2:13 pm
@longtimecobbbasketballer dude you are getting a little personal. Let me inform you.. ALL Schools recruit. Churchwell recruited Jamal from Pope. He lived in a inlaws suit directly in front of the school. One of North Cobb Coaches that use to coach the 9th grade team was recruiting Staley. Hillgroves Coach recruits. So does Kenn Mt., Mceachern, etc. dont start me my friend. I KNOW EVERYBODY AND ALL THE DIRT. WATCH WHAT YOU SAY. The school that was recruiting STALEY (MILTON).. He didnt go there. He chose Wheeler. They didnt choose him
North Cobb Orange
March 3rd, 2013
2:14 pm
North Cobb beat Hillgrove 3 times. If North Cobb had beaten Norcross, they would have beaten Hillgrove for a 4th time. And, if played 5 times, Hillgrove would be 0-5. We see Hillgrove as just another average team.
zac
March 3rd, 2013
2:22 pm
north cobb orange your just jealous that Hillgrove is going to the championship and u guys arent period! Other wise u wouldnt have even gotten on this blog and responded!
zac
March 3rd, 2013
2:22 pm
north cobb orange your just jealous that Hillgrove is going to the championship and u guys arent period! Other wise u wouldnt have even gotten on this blog and responded!
zac
March 3rd, 2013
2:25 pm
north cobb orange your a big dork
Forealtho
March 3rd, 2013
2:26 pm
You are going to hit a brick wall every time
North Cobb Orange
March 3rd, 2013
2:27 pm
@Zac. Did you need to post that twice. LOL
Anyway, we even beat you once even without Neff. Hillgrove is just a mediocre team benefiting from a weak tournament draw.
Norcross will beat you to the point of embarrassment.
Walter Paul
March 3rd, 2013
2:33 pm
@North Cobb Orange I agree. Norcross will decimate them. You can see my reasons above. Last night was my first time to see them. I couldn’t believe how unimpressive they were. You guys, on the other hand, are dangerous.
Black
March 3rd, 2013
2:35 pm
I dont know who is pretending to be BLACK! BUT WHO EVER IS PLAYING BETTER CHILL WITH THE BULLSHET!! If I find out who (black)
wheeler parent is.. its gonna be some problems!!!
Pat Ewing does not have a kid on wheelers team. Pat Ewing jr is Elijah Staleys brother..
North Cobb
March 3rd, 2013
2:35 pm
NC Orange…please quiet down…you are embarrassing yourself and all of the north cobb community…we lost both boys and girls…plain and simple…good luck to all the remaining teams…Hillgrove beat a very good Wheeler squad…I don’t consider that a weak draw or win…that’s why they play the games.
North Cobb Orange
March 3rd, 2013
2:42 pm
@North Cobb I’ll speak for myself thank you.
Black
March 3rd, 2013
2:46 pm
@pls whoever you are. You barking up the wrong tree homie! I said the gaurd play was horrible aand thats what I meant. I didnt bite my tongue. Im very strait to the point. Now if you wanna know what pg I was referring to, you are more than welcome to call me. your son has my sons number. And again.. you punks better stop using my dam name to trick pzople!
zac
March 3rd, 2013
2:47 pm
let me say again we are going to the championship game NCO u r not! Lets say we win NCO for some god forsaken reason i wonder what other jealous comments u would have to say! or maybe we just dont match up well with NC what every the case may be we r there and u r not period! and that i do love! it makes people like u get on here and whine because u went down before Hillgrove.
Mr Love
March 3rd, 2013
2:54 pm
My son name is being dogged on this site and I wasn’t even at the peachtree or hillgrove game. You have my name. I must hurry back I see. But in the meantime who is actually aplomb out Jerron?
Shaunster
March 3rd, 2013
2:57 pm
The smartest guy analytically that I’ve seen come on these blogs is @Hubert Green.
It would be great to hear his take on: [1] Wheeler’s performance vs. Hillgrove [2] Is Hillgrove that good? and [3] What to expect from Norcross vs. Hillgrove
zac
March 3rd, 2013
2:57 pm
thank u north cobb for understanding the game of basketball and letting NCO know how imature his talk is!
HawksFan
March 3rd, 2013
3:05 pm
All you guys need to chill, Hillgrove beat Wheeler, plan and simple, they played the better game, Morris outcoached Lipscomb, plan and simple, they played patiently on offense, and hit their open jumpers, and played tenacious on defense, Wheeler only plays one style, up and down the floor, and if they can’t do that, they don’t have a plan B, and that was the problem with Wheeler, Hillgrove took away plan A, and that was it for Wheeler. Some of you guys seem to think that Hillgrove doesn’t have any talent, they wouldn’t be here without talent, Norcross is good, but they have flaws just like anyone else, #11 is good, be he only finishes on the right side of the court, #22 can jump out of the gym and is very strong(#2 ranked DE in country), but can’t make FT’s, #15 is very versatile, he worries me more than anyone. And to forealtho, Hillgrove don’t recruit, Morris have turned away kids that came over from other schools just to play basketball, these kids played in the Hillgrove Jr program. Also forealtho, you are just throwing out there about Kyle shooting to much, that is the FARTHEST thing from the truth, the kids actually want him to shoot more, he is not a volume shooter, he gets his points within the flow of the game, so please don’t put that out there just to be saying something, that is not true. Good luck Hillgrove next Saturday, nobody thought they would beat Wheeler, you never know, that’s why they play the game, we will see next week in Macon.
Black
March 3rd, 2013
3:28 pm
Mr. love.. get my number thru your son. I dont appreciate some young punk pretending to be me!! I tweeted last night. and I dont bite my tongue. no direspect. Ive talked to you after the game on several occasions. We BOTH kniw what the poblem is on our team. THATS OUR BUSINESS. Im not gonna apoligize cause I didnt say nothin I wouldnt say to anybody face. If my son is F’ing up, Im the first one to tell coach to sit him down! And again.. who ever @blackwheelerparent is, you better not let me find out who you are!! Mr. love .. give me a call homie. I dont play games with people kids cause I will kill about mine.. you people on this blog better find somebody else to play with.. realtalk
Black
March 3rd, 2013
3:44 pm
And if you know me.. you would know that me and Kyle Castlins parents are very cool. Bj dad as well! Know before you talk
JohnJ
March 3rd, 2013
4:32 pm
Ok was Ewing at the game or not
shakinmyhead
March 3rd, 2013
4:37 pm
FOR ALL WHEELER PARENTS that have commented on this blog in a NEGATIVE WAY, SHAME on you!!! these are kids, nobody’s kid is getting a paycheck and they are all AMATUERS….First and foremost, it’s a TEAM SPORT, stop thinking that one is better than the other. They aren’t…they all make mistakes in EVERY GAME…if you want to blame someone, blame the COACHING STAFF, all of them…they are suppose to prepare the kids for battle and they were simply not prepared in a lot of ways… the BIGS as well as Guard play was equally off based because everyone was playing one on one bal instead of TEAM ball….face it, the BIGS didn’t convert MANNNYYY times when the ball was given to them and the GUARDS played selfishly at times..they were just trying to WIN and they didnt play their best game as a TEAM…..stop blaming one set of kids becasue frankly you don’t COMPLAIN when they win and they make some of the same mistakes then, it just ends up in their favor…ALL of the kids including Hillgrove played hard and I congratulate them all, even the kids that didn’t play, they were still cheering their teams on sitting on the bench… I encourage you PARENTS to be a GOOD example for your kids, and by posting negative things about kids is simply DISTASTEFUL!!!!
JohnJ
March 3rd, 2013
6:23 pm
Ok so let me get this straight pat Ewing is Staleys mothers brother?