HINSDALE CENTRAL HOLIDAY CLASSIC

HC SQUARED:  Building a New Tradition of Basketball at Its Best
 

2016 GAME 22 RECAP: HINSDALE CENTRAL 56, ROCKFORD AUBURN 51

Box Score

HINSDALE, Ill. - Hinsdale Central secured a spot in the fifth-place game of the 2016 Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic by upending Rockford Auburn 56-51.

The host Red Devils fell behind 9-4 early but used a 9-2 run to grab a 13-11 lead with 1:08 left in the first quarter. A three-pointer from Austin Sturlin gave Rockford Auburn a 14-13 lead after one quarter. Rockford Auburn (7-6) built a four-point cushion midway through the second quarter, but Hinsdale Central (6-5) closed with a 7-1 run to build a two-point cushion (27-25) at the half.

Hinsdale Central led by as many as six points in the third but three-pointers from Sturlin and Terry Ford pulled Rockford Auburn even at 39-all after three quarters. The Knights built a quick four-point lead in the fourth quarter only to see Hinsdale Central reclaim the lead just two minutes later on a Trevor Hamilton three-pointer. The lead changed hands three times over the next three minutes, and Hinsdale Central went ahead for good on a Chris Eck layup with 2:15 to play. The Red Devils hit 4-of-6 free throws down the stretch while Rockford Auburn was held scoreless, allowing Hinsdale Central to pull away for the five-point win.

Four players reached double figures in scoring to pace Hinsdale Central. Eck led the way with 16 points and six rebounds while Tomas Misiunas finished with 13 points. Hamilton totaled 11 points and six assists while Jack Hoiberg scored 10, including eight free throws in the fourth quarter. Hinsdale Central shot 46.2 percent (18-of-39) from the floor, including 40.0 percent (4-of-10) from three-point distance. The Red Devils were solid from the free throw line, hitting 16-of-18 attempts (88.9 percent).

Ford led Rockford Auburn in the loss with 14 points while Tenoah Tatum scored 12 points and collected five rebounds. The Knights shot 50.0 percent (19-of-38) from the field, including 46.2 percent (6-of-13) from beyond the arc. The Knights struggled from the foul line, hitting just 7-of-15 attempts (46.7 percent).

Hinsdale Central will face Westinghouse in the fifth-place game on Friday (December 30) at 5:15 p.m. Rockford Auburn will take on Lincoln Park on Friday at 2:00 p.m.