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
@John J
March 3rd, 2013
8:17 pm
I think he is but I think BlackWheelerparent is claiming him on the next episode of Springer!!!!!!!!
R Jeremy
March 3rd, 2013
10:59 pm
This is hilarious!!! The people at Wheeler named the gym after a guy who gets outcoached on almost nightly basis. Hes turned into a puppet for the inmates that run WorldWide. People want to use youth as an excuse for Wheeler. Please…their are plenty of coaches who would LOVE to have that youth and would have at least made a state championship appearance. After Boyd was canned at Milton and that program was benched for the postseason, their was no doubt about it that Norcross, Tift County, and Wheeler were far and away the 3 most talented teams. Only 1 of those teams made it and they are probably about to win their 5th championship in the last 8 years. The pathetic Worldwide coaches (I use the term ‘coaches’ loosely)sit on the floor at Wheeler home games and coach from the sidelines. They go into the locker room during pre game, halftime, and post game. Ever since Wheeler has been bringing in busloads of players they have never reached their potential as a team. At times they have been good enough that even Stevie Wonder couldnt mess it up. Which semifinal loss will go down in Wheeler history as the worst one ever…Hillgrove or Beach?
Will
March 3rd, 2013
11:36 pm
So can I assume the dude who is right behind Wheeler’s bench every game, goes into the locker room with the team and knows all the players and announcers and some college games is affiliated with Worldwide?
Hawk nation
March 3rd, 2013
11:58 pm
@rjeremy how do you figure it is an upset? I think the best team won! It’s not dunk contest its basketball. When you play the zone these high flying tall kids I’m not going to athletic ,if you above 6′4 you should b able to dunk, u limit the post and dribble drive game and if your not patient you start shooting jumpers and if wheeler is not running and dunking there a 500 team!
Worldwide a joke
March 4th, 2013
8:57 am
Worldwide and Wheeler coaches told Kejuan Johnson who transferred to Westlake one week before season he is prohibited from a team tryout. ( that’s the drift) Maybe bc johnson had played for Aau team other than worldwide. Could be a rumor but up to you to decide. GA high school hoops authority is totally lame. Is this claim fact or opinion? If true then is there any conflict of interest issue? The problem is Worldwide has a son on team as well so he is perfect position to hold back the other players for his kid. The recruiter, is the coach and father of son on team. 3 in 1. No wonder Wheeler lost. And lipscom going along with it is amazing. Worldwide stay out the gym n locker rooms and be one or the other. Not all 3. If you try to be all 3 stubbornly j promise Wheeler will fall by September. Still you have one coming to you. God bless America.
KceraB
March 4th, 2013
9:05 am
To the parents from both teams, you have very talented players on both the winning and the losing teams, which is why you made it to the Semifinals. What some of you are doing in this blog is displaying your individual low self esteem and trying hard for it to be lifted by diminishing the other opponent. Some comments fall squarely in the realm of bullying, especially the comments by the person “Where greater then you.” Your suggestion of violence to the point of ending a life is highlighting the violent culture that has permeated our society and it absolutely needs to stop. No words spoken should ever conclude with such an ending. If this is the type attitude you are building in the minds of your athletes on the floor, I only hope and pray they have the insight and wisdom not to be like you.
Worldwide a joke
March 4th, 2013
9:15 am
Norcross over HillGrove by double digits. Watch out for Brandon Goodwin!
Smh
March 4th, 2013
9:51 am
3 can not go into 1 mathematically.
only time will tell
March 4th, 2013
10:31 am
Worlwide a joke…
I agree #11 is pretty good, but double digits? Like I have said before, we will not get into a smack talking contest with disgruntled fans of teams that have lost and are simply on here to vent because their squad is at home watching the finals on GPTV. The game is at 8:45 pm Saturday night. Let’s see how this plays out and may the best TEAM win.
Tha Truth
March 4th, 2013
11:30 am
Pay attention Building a TEAM 101….Wheeler has great individual players just not a great team…You cant have so many superstars on one team , role players are the key. Example…Staley and Brown pretty much the same type of player….Smoak and Patterson pretty much the same player…I’ve heard some comments about Jerron Love…but he is actually the only pure point guard on the team. Example…Norcross first five consists of a solid point guard (Goodwin) a shooter(Chatfield) low post scorer (O’Donahue) a perimeter defender (Pinkett) and interior defender/rebounder(Carter)….Could McMillan have compiled a team of all D1 prospects ? Probably….But the object is to build a championship TEAM not an all star team
(black) wheeler parent..
March 4th, 2013
11:54 am
You adults are ignorant and stupid! Its a shame how you talk about kids on blogs. WHEELER SUCKS!!!! THANKS MR BLACK. YOU AND YOUR WIFE ARE RACIST! ROTFL…
Georgia Pride
March 4th, 2013
12:35 pm
@thetruth Speaking of Jerron as “only pure point guard on the team” it’s peculiar how Wheeler has him coming off bench which I witnessed.
This system for whatever purpose is backwards. Impossible to realistically win chip with such an unorthodox formula or view and perspective of line ups. your pure point guard playing back up secondary role to a combo guard. Lmao. Wheeler needs to just quit.
Black
March 4th, 2013
1:56 pm
This has gotten way out of hand. All of this over a STATEMENT THAT WAS MADE ON TWITTER. Not this blog, but TWITTER. FOR REAL!? If anybody know me, you should know I dont talk like that. I say what I want to but I do have a filter. Who ever pretended to be me (black), took ONE statement from another blog and put it on here word for word. I have a idea who it is. If I find out it is who I think it is, Im gonnaa make your life a living hell. Trust me.
I will say one thing. The pretender was right about. You people on here really are a bunch of cowards cause you sit here and trash people, but will not use your real name. That email address is a correct email. If you are one of the folk on here talking bad about me and my family. Man up and contact me or leave my name out your mouth. Its good to know how people feel about you. lol Its all good. I stay prayed up.
have a nice day
Big trash
March 4th, 2013
2:14 pm
U said the guards r trash. Well your big is trash. How u like that?! Never go to Twitter disrespect. What was the publicity stunt behind that? Gosh. Which one of those guards do you want to battle since u went to twitter with it. Just say the name n that person will surely contact u.
Jerron Pg
March 4th, 2013
2:31 pm
Black said the guards are horrible. Quess he meant Jerron too. How can we arrange a Elijah staley vs Jerron. Todd can you properly set that up???????????????????????? You campaign for you or someone to believe the guards are horrible. Yeah ok. 5-10 vs 6-7 is something I want to see NOW.
HoopCrazy
March 4th, 2013
2:38 pm
People have backing and support. U are not the only with it. Keep in mind there are only two type players. A baller and dawg. If u are a baller then respect the dawg. If u are a dawg then accept the invite. Don’t bark and not bite.
R U Serious
March 4th, 2013
2:41 pm
Even though Jerron rides bench Black Wheeler Parent don’t respect him. No one does. IMO Jerron is better than him. Lets put lots of energy in this so it happens.
Yeah
March 4th, 2013
2:44 pm
Basketball is everything nothing else to live for.
Horrible
March 4th, 2013
2:48 pm
I just want to see them play against each other. Simple and plain.
Horrible
March 4th, 2013
2:57 pm
Jerron is trained to play within system OR play his own game. Neither is horrible. if Jerron uses his own game against you he will destroy u. Don’t judge him In that system and coming off bench. When your son starts n have to pass him the ball to score. Just isn’t fair. If it were a NBA combine and u said he’s horrible then that’s ok becaused based off his true ability. But not when he’s still learning the system and back up as they paint it. Jerron is far advanced skill wise then him so if he’s horrible like u say then wheeler is starless. Elijah is athletic n Jerron is skilled. Both shall collide as a way of life.
Better not let
March 4th, 2013
3:05 pm
Jerron find out another dad called him Horrible. Jerron will smile in your face off the court but he’ll handle you on the court.
Iso
March 4th, 2013
3:15 pm
Best if they meet at a showcae camp for Jerron to call isolation plays from wing. when they teams play just call him out. The coaches n refs sometime don’t stop the players.
Wait Stop
March 4th, 2013
3:21 pm
I saw this one on one on YouTube where two basketball players competed to the blood. One lost a tooth. The other had a inch bump bruise on his forhead. I hope both these players have done it before or prepared to play to the blood.
forrealtho
March 4th, 2013
3:40 pm
Black didnt say the gaurds were horrible.. He said that wheeler has the worst gaurds in the STATE!!! LMAOOOOO I dont think he was talking about you Lil dude. We all saw the game. We know who f’ed it up. stop tripping JERRON
Tha Truth
March 4th, 2013
3:46 pm
Biggest mistake for Wheeler was not having Jerron Love running the offense….Picture this….Jerron love transfers to Norcross…steps in for a graduating Brandon Goodwin at the point….Norcross will be right back in the championship game…please believe it
Forrealtho ain't Forealtho
March 4th, 2013
4:09 pm
The more you talk u tell on yourself. It’s comfortable to call him lil Dude. Damn that system must’ve put a hurting on him. Anyway you will b forced to pull it.
only time will tell
March 4th, 2013
4:11 pm
Tha Truth…sound like you know something about to go down.
I will say this as a person outside “Wheeler-ville”, the booster club meetings must be real tense over there. You all are out of control. You’ve formed, recruited and assembled a young team with young talent. Last I checked no one is getting paid out there. Unless someone is going to come clean about that too on here. You guys are beating up 16 and 17 year olds. You need to quit living through your kids and accept the fact your playing days are history. If some of you even played. It must be miserable for the coaches and players because adults can’t get along for 30 games and play nice. No one has heard a peep out of Wheeler all season and then they lose a game to a TEAM you feel superior to and then it’s the coaches fault, the guards fault, the concession stand workers fault, the lighting at Tech was not right, the refs fault. There is too much of an entitlement feeling going on over there. Respect is earned. Obviously no one is intimidated by Wheeler. It’s the playoffs and you are amongst the hunted. No where is it written that just because you show up with a couple of tall kids you HAVE to win. If one of next year recruits reads this blog, do you think they are in a hurry to come play with that group of parents?? It’s beyond me that someone would want their kid to play over there. Obviously you don’t like your coach. He has how many titles? Obviously you don’t like anyone in the back court and what’s crazy you guys publically disrespect team mates on a blog.
Cut the crap
March 4th, 2013
4:50 pm
@onlytimewilltell
You sound absolutely pothetic. It’s not about someone playing days. Just everyone needs to cut the act. I can tell uv seen it all. Well me too. Your are not reall saying anything. This is how it goes. 5 coaches will start you and 5 coaches won’t. You have to get with the coach who will start you. Doesn’t mean if one doesn’t start you that all 9 won’t. Wheeler is one of the 5 who won’t start him. Just play the kids in rightful position not about beating up 16 and 17. Cut the crap. The campaign is to make guards seem horrible to create the stage of holding Jerron Love back another year. Wheeler must have beef with Espn mag or something cause they damn sure wanted to see hi
start. I’ve been thru hell so I welcome any one of you into this fire
Hoopppp
March 4th, 2013
4:57 pm
It’s not about Jerron it’s about team but i admit since smoak enjoys shooting alot they should have slid smoak over to 2guard n put Jerron at 1 since he likes to pass alot. The team flowed thru the starting Pg which was smoak who is gooD player however he likes to get 25 a game. U need a guard who willing to sacrifice his point to get the ball to players. Proly they just wasn’t show casing Jerron. Only Giddens, jay brown and Staley and Smoak etc..ones who actually play for worldwide. Smh
Forealtho ain't forealtho
March 4th, 2013
5:02 pm
I assure you you have no real power. U will hit a brick wall everytime.
Forealtho ain't forealtho
March 4th, 2013
5:05 pm
Who are you or anyone to call a player horrible. Are u that talented yourself. Do u really have the machine needed to compete RIGHT NOW. NO. So stop telling on yourself.
Nice Job Fellas
March 4th, 2013
5:07 pm
Supervisor recorded me on the blog since 830am and fired after I clocked out. ;( I’ll be back on this when I get home where I’ll have more time on my hands to follow up.
forrealtho
March 4th, 2013
5:10 pm
You lil punks can kick rocks… My guy wasnt eve talkin about Jerron. Jerron should have been the starting point. I agree with who said that. He does have the highest PG IQ on the team. Smoak is a scorer.. Question?? Jerron what will you do next year when Dez son is healthy? He is a PG too. Do you think you will start over the coach son? Thought about that?
Forrealtho Ain't Forrealtho
March 4th, 2013
5:22 pm
Now everybody is a PG. Just throwing the position around. Damn y’all clowning Mr Love and his son. Wow.
Forreal Ain't Foreal
March 4th, 2013
5:37 pm
Jerron should just smash everybody on his team. Nothing to lose now. The entire starting 5. Throw the coaches in their too they aren’t even better.
forrealtho
March 4th, 2013
5:46 pm
Yaw lil punks makin a big deal out of nothin. im not clowning Jerron. I dont have a son on the team. I can say what I want to. lol…
Foreal
March 4th, 2013
5:56 pm
You are a lil punk but u think not. U have no product or nothing to fight with. No player on team. So chill. I can tell u have never been thru nothing THAT serious in amatuer hoop. stick to te league kid. It’s hell I can see clear u have never been burned. I’m scorching hot and humble. I’m god fearing n very spiritual. I fight for justice. N will fight against u lil dude. U are a clown just hiding behind blog.
Lil dude
March 4th, 2013
6:06 pm
That lil dude Jerron better escape Ga fast as he can because they destroying this kid
forrealtho
March 4th, 2013
6:57 pm
Lil dude is just salty because he dont start.. lol AND he missed free throws and the shot to tie the game.. you suck. lol.. he wasnt ready for that big stage. He should have gave the ball to JB!LOL…
THE BOSS
March 4th, 2013
7:12 pm
Ill Play Jerron Love! He is trash! How many offers does he have?!! He dumb as all out. Thats why he couldnt play til jan. His grades.. lol.. You cant play with no grades boo boo!! Lol.
The Boss
March 4th, 2013
7:25 pm
Ut oh.. lol.Tell me how Jerron Love is in the 10th grade, Smoak is in the 12th but Jerron is older???? Lol stay in school.. lil dummy
wheeler dont want you
March 4th, 2013
8:39 pm
Herring come to hillgrove and we will smash them again next year. We are losing 2 point guards and have a spot Wide open and we LOVE our players.
wheeler dont want you
March 4th, 2013
8:40 pm
My bad spell check that massage was for JERRON!!!!!!
The Boss
March 4th, 2013
9:19 pm
He will only be eligible for one more year! Hahahahaha Wheeler KIDS are dumb anyway. They always have a team full of dummies. Just like last year. They lost 2 kids due to grades. Jerron fits right in.. Stay there. Hillgrove dont want him. lol
Cobb County Coach
March 5th, 2013
9:41 am
Ya’ll crack me up, the most entertaining posts on here are JohnJ, the man just wants a Ewing jersey signed and none of yall even read his post because you jump to the next smack talking post.
And WHEN YOU HIT THE CAPS button, does that mean that you are yelling or being hard, are we supposed to go, ut oh, he just used caps, we better stay back a little, hes mean and tough?!?!?
Just a few tidbits, the Staley kid should of been playing for NC Saturday night, he was at NC up until the 8th grade when the dad realized he wouldnt be the star for the next four years transferred him because the Griffin brothers being the studs they are and he dang sure wouldnt of played QB in front of the Queen kid.
Many, many Tommy Toughguys on here, “hey yo, meet me down the skreet and lets go a round and thro some hands homie”. Grow up folks, let the kids play basketball and leave them alone, and live your hasbeen, wannabe life by yourself. Btw, AAU is a joke.
DST
March 5th, 2013
9:46 am
wow! I’m not a fan of neither team, but reading this particular blog is sad, yet entertaining, it’s hard to believe that you all are adults. I feel sorry for the players because all they want to do is play the game they love, smh
Wow
March 5th, 2013
11:42 am
Wow is all I can say too. @North Cobb Coach, Keyboard Capones and the MicroSoft Mafia for sure. lol. This is comical. Let’s see if this thread doesn’t break some sort of record for stretching into baseball season. Lil Pee Wee should’ve been playing over June Bug. June Bug got that crossover shawty but Lil Pee Wee is fye!!! lol
Wow
March 5th, 2013
11:44 am
Oops, I meant Cobb County Coach.
D1
March 5th, 2013
12:12 pm
Not a fan of any team, but Hillgrove played a great game. Wheeler has no consistant shooter, but they did not get the ball inside none that night. Hillgrove defense wasnt packing in the middle like that. No high low action bigs screening for shooters no sealing the defenders or anything. They had a chance to win at the end, but the wrong person took the last shot twice. #10 and #0. Run win you can but you work inside out period.
forrealtho
March 5th, 2013
1:46 pm
@Cobb County Coach dude stop acting like you know why Staley left N. Cobb. First of all he never went to NC. He play 8th grade over there only. He left NC for the same reason the Griffins did. We all know why they left. His parents seen that coming in the 8th grade so they left. Albright should have left as well. Big Queen did jim the same way he did Ty Griffin and would have done Staley if they hadnt left.
Ty Gfiffin is going to GT. Stayley has offers in Football and Basketball. You say he dont have talent? And wouldnt have started? What do you coach? I hope not football cause you sound like a dummy or you hatin. Ive had this convo with you before on here. And truth be told, Stayley would have been at Hillgrove bur you got the same football problem over there. the coaches son is the QB.
Cobb coach stop getting on here with no facts buddy. You dont know a thing. Stick to Coaching powder puff.