BB SECT 40: 2A #1 Tipton rallies to defeat #7 Oak Hill, 48-44

TIPTON – Oak Hill dominated the vast majority of its Class 2A Sectional 40 opening-round game March 4 versus 3A top-ranked Tipton. But the host Blue Devils dominated the part that mattered. As a result, Tipton came away with an improbable 48-44 victory.

You would not expect a school that travelled annually to Marion for tournament play for more than 30 years to be intimidated by playing the highly regarded Blue Devils on their home court, and Oak Hill certainly was not. The Golden Eagles started the game applying defensive pressure that totally befuddled Tipton. 

Oak Hill held Tipton’s high-powered offense to just four first-quarter points, going on a four-minute 8-0 run at the end of the period to lead 10-4. The Blue Devils (21-2) were getting shots, but they were rushed and not the shots they really wanted. 

Indiana University-bound Derek Elston was limited to just two points on a putback midway through the period.

By the same token, there are a lot of reasons people think so highly of Tipton, and the Blue Devils exhibited a few of them in the second quarter. They began to ramp up their own defensive effort, forcing Oak Hill (17-4) into several poor shots and several turnovers. 

Tipton slowly cut into the lead, finally reducing it to two points at 16-14 just before the half. Then Oak Hill’s Eric Doyle hit a floater in the lane just before the horn to give the Eagles a four-point cushion at intermission.

Those who thought Tipton had survived the storm were sadly mistaken. Oak Hill started the second half on an 8-2 run that not only gave the Golden Eagles a 26-16 advantage but also found Tipton getting into early foul trouble. 

The Blue Devils were in need of a hero, and the likely candidate showed up in the nick of time. The 6’8” Elston, who had been held to four points in the first half, scored seven more during an 8-0 Tipton run that cut the lead to 26-24 late in the period. 

Despite his best efforts, however, it appeared Oak Hill had the necessary kryptonite. The Golden Eagles responded with a run of their own and led after three stanzas, 33-28.

What went largely unnoticed in that third quarter was a change in the Tipton defense. When the Oak Hill lead reached 10 midway through the quarter, coach Travis Daugherty switched his troops into a zone. 

While it did not pay immediate dividends on the scoreboard, it did slow the Golden Eagles down on the offensive end. That quickly transferred to the defensive end, where the visitors seemed incapable of applying quite as much pressure as they had during most of the game.

The payoff came in the fourth period. Oak Hill expanded the lead to eight at 38-30 with 6:27 left to play … then it all fell apart for the Golden Eagles. In fact, it went away completely and quickly. 

Suddenly a Tipton team that had struggled with Oak Hill’s quickness all evening became the quicker team. The Blue Devils were the aggressor. They had turned the switch on the Oak Hill engine to “off,” and the GEs seemed incapable of turning it back on. 

Oak Hill would not score again until there was less than a minute to play. In that time, Tipton went on a 16-0 run that turned a 38-30 deficit into a 46-38 lead. Oak Hill’s misery included four missed free throws, four turnovers, and a couple questionable shots. 

Elston added six more points during the run, but the key blow was a 3-pointer from the top of the key from Craig Dickey that gave Tipton its first lead since 4-2. The Golden Eagles tried valiantly to fight back but had far too little time. 

Elston led Tipton with 19 points and 14 rebounds on the night. Doyle led Oak Hill with 15 markers. 

In the night’s first game, Eastern (Greentown) eliminated Sheridan (8-13) with a 66-58 victory. The Comets (11-10), who fell 73-51 at Tipton on the last day of January, will get another shot at the Blue Devils in Friday’s second semifinal. 

The evening’s first game will pit bye-receiver Madison-Grant (13-7) against No. 12 Guerin Catholic (15-7), a 63-54 winner over Taylor in Tuesday’s sectional opener. Those batch of Golden Eagles may be flying under the radar as they sit seventh in the latest 2A Sagarin power ratings.

After the game, Tipton coach Daugherty spoke of the heart of both teams. Dickey’s shot and Daugherty’s comments appear in the video players on this page!

Game 1: Guerin Catholic 63, Taylor 54

Game 2: Eastern (Greentown) 66, Sheridan 58

Game 3: Tipton 48, Oak Hill 44

Game 4: Madison-Grant vs. Guerin Catholic. Fri 6p ET

Game 5: Eastern (Greentown) vs. Tipton. Fri to follow

Championship: Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5. Sat 7:30p ET