Ado, Micakovic Lead Hamilton Heights Past Spartans, 67-36

Ado's Double-Double Eye Opener For College Coach

  • Saturday, January 17, 2015
  • Special to Chattanoogan.com

Second-ranked Hamilton Heights ripped five-time TSSAA state champion White Station, 67-36, Saturday and University of Memphis coach Josh Pastner got an eyeful of Hawks junior post Abdulhakim Ado doing his specialty in the Lynx MLK Classic at Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis.

“I’m really proud of the guys’ effort defensively tonight,” Hawks coach Zach Ferrell said. “White Station only had two baskets in the first half. Our focus and energy were great.”

While Ado scored just four points, the 6-foot-10-inch rim protector with the 7-5 wingspan, blocked 12 shots and claimed 10 rebounds as the Hawks pushed their season record to 20-1 and extended their winning streak to 19.

Pastner had to be impressed.

Ferrell absolutely was.

“It was really unbelievable to watch,” he said. “Abdul had five blocks in the first quarter and had some special plays that not many people and make. He totally dominated the game on the defensive end and was a huge part of our success tonight.”

The Hawks, ranked No. 2 by MaxPreps.com, crushed the Spartans from the outset and everyone in the gymnasium knew the blowout was coming.

Hamilton Heights led 31-9 at the half and two Hawks players – Strahinja Micakovic and Joan Duran – had already combined for 23 points at intermission.

Micakovic, who scored 12 points in the Hawks’ 80-64 victory over MHEA on Friday night, finished with a game-high 17 against the Spartans – he scored 13 in the first half – and was named the game’s most outstanding player.

“Strahinja’s confidence is extremely high right now,” Ferrell said. “He’s shooting almost 60 percent from 3-point distance, which is ridiculous. He opened the game up for us. When 3s don’t fall, he can put it on the floor and finish plays around the basket and shoots free throws well. He’s a big offensive threat.”

Duran added 14 points and 10 rebounds. Ezekiel Balogun pumped in 16 points after leading the Hawks with 13 on Friday.

Pastner is in a large pack of college coaches trying to lure Ado to their campus in 2016. In addition to Memphis, Ado has offers from Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Louisville, Georgia, Arizona State, Penn State and Auburn.

Hamilton Heights, which hasn’t lost since Nov. 28 when Providence Day won 72-62, will be in Nashville on Tuesday to take on TSSAA Division II power Ensworth. The Hawks will play Brainerd on Thursday at Chattanooga State.

The Hamilton Heights girls defeated Briarcrest, 49-36, as freshmen Jazmine Massengill led the offensive attack with 19 points.

Elizabeth Balogun scored 13 points and added eight rebounds, six blocks and two steals. She was credited with five turnovers.

Massengill scored nine points to power the Lady Hawks to a 17-7 first-quarter lead.

Only five players scored for the Lady Hawks.

On Friday, MHEA beat the Lady Hawks, 48-44, behind the 24 points of Torri Lewis.

Summaries

Boys Game

Hamilton Heights                       16 15 20 18 – 67

White Station                                6 3 15 12 – 36

Hamilton Heights (67) – Joan Duran 14, Ado 4, Chantha 2, Ezekiel Balogun 16, Strahinja Micakovic 17, Andelic 8, Olatunji 2, Adheke 4, Massengill 2.

White Station (36) – Price 6, Smith 4, Strother 3, Peoples 3, Sandifer 3, Winford 11, Watkins.

3-Point Goals – Hamilton Heights 5 (Micakovic 3, Duran 2), White Station 6 (Price 2, Smith 1, Sandifer 1, Winford 1).

Girls Game

Hamilton Heights                       17 5 14 13 – 49

Briarcrest                                        7 10 4 15 – 36

Hamilton Heights (49) – Jazmine Massengill 19, Elizabeth Balogun 13, Esada 6, Bardeeva 2, Hunt 9.

Briarcrest (36) – Love 2, Taylor, Holden 7, Bryson, Newman 1, Owens 3, Wells 2, Holden 21.

3-Point Goals – Hamilton Heights 6 (Balogan 3, Massengill 2, Hunt 1), Briarcrest 1 (Holden 1).           

(E-mail Larry Fleming at Larryfleming44@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @larryfleming44)

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