In a Sunday showdown of high school basketball powers trying to improve their standing among the nation’s top teams, Hamilton Heights got a step-back 3-point shot by Nickeil Alexander-Walker in overtime to beat Westtown (Pa.), 57-56, Sunday in the prestigious 43rd City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.
The Westtown Moose took a 56-54 lead with 2:57 remaining in the overtime period, but Alexander-Walker drained what proved to be the game-winning 3-pointer 42 seconds later in a game that saw the lead change hands nine times.
“Coach (Zach Ferrell) called a play and I knew we needed a bucket,” Alexander-Walker said in a telephone interview.
“Abdul (Ado) set a really good screen, I came off it and did a step-back 3. That’s one of many shots I have, but it was the necessary move at the time.
“I knew I was going to score from the time I brought the ball up court.”
The Hawks came up with a defensive stop on the game’s final play to preserve the victory.
“We had a foul to give and did that with about 16 seconds left,” Ferrell said. “I told the guys the game was going to be won on the defensive end and it was only fitting it came down to the last possession. We had really good one-on-one defense and that last play was a result of really good team defense.”
Hamilton Heights (11-2) advanced to the Signature Series championship and will face the Athlete Institute (Ontario) on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Athlete Institute defeated Potter’s House Christian, 46-43, behind the nine points, eight rebounds and five blocks by 7-1 Thon Maker, the No. 1-rated player by Hoop Scoop.
“The win today gets us back on track after a tough loss to Oak Hill (in the North-South Classic in Abington Va.),” Alexander-Walker said. “We were confident coming into the game and all of us were willing to battle for each other and do whatever it took to win the game.”
Walker, rated the No. 1 prospect in Canada by North Pole Hoops, finished with 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting from 3-point distance. He missed a pair of two-point tries.
The Canadian entourage that joined the Hawks once again provided most of the offensive punch. Therren Shelton-Szmidt had a team-high 15 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a junior who has committed to Florida, added 14 points and eight assists.
That threesome combined to make 9-of-17 shots behind the arc.
Walker not only tantalized Westtown with his superlative offensive performance, the 6-foot-5-inch junior was active on defense, Cameron Reddish, Westtown’s best perimeter player to nine points on 4-of-14 shooting. Reddish also had three turnovers.
“Nickeil was really great offensively and he and Shai Alexander showed great aggression and an ability to make shots when we needed them,” Ferrell said. “Walker really made Reddish take some tough shots in the second half.”
Silas Adheke tossed in 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks. Abdulhakim Ado, a 6-10 center committed to Mississippi State, finished with six points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
Six-foot-11 center Mohammed Bamba led Westtown, out of West Chester, Pa., with 20 points 10 rebounds and three blocks. Bamba, Westtown’s best player, made 8-of-9 field goals. Brandon Randolph chipped in 14 points and six rebounds.
For the game, Westtown had a 28-22 rebounding edge, including 22 on the defensive glass. Sixteen of Hamilton Heights’ rebounds came on the defensive end.
The Hawks hit 23-of-55 shots for 41.8 percent while the Moose made 21-of-53 attempts for 39.6 percent. Each team connected on nine 3s.
Hamilton Heights’ biggest lead was five points with 6:37 left in regulation. Westtown had a nine-point advantage at the 6:21.
Westtown built a 36-28 halftime lead, but the Hawks stiffened their defense and held the Moose to just 20 points in the second half and overtime period.
“We got in a lull defensively in the first half and let them get a pretty good lead,” Ferrell said. “In the second half and overtime we really fought hard, the guys never hung their heads and competed their tails off.
“Several plays we gave up could have been deflating, but they never gave up and found a way to win. Obviously, we’re excited to be in the championship game. They guys are not satisfied at all by winning today. We didn’t come down here to win just one game.”
College recruiters from Kansas, Alabama, North Carolina, Maryland, Miami, Florida State and Boston College attended the game.
LINESCORE
Boys
Westtown School (Pa.) 18 18 10 8 2 – 56
Hamilton Heights 17 11 20 6 3 – 57
Westtown School (56) – Hunter 4, Brandon Randolph 14, Bolden 9, Mohammed Bamba 20, Reddish 9.
Hamilton Heights (57) – Ado 6, Therren Shelton-Szmidt 15, Nickeil Alexander-Walker 12, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 14, Silas Adheke 10, Balogun 2.
3-Point Goals – Westtown School 9, (Randolph 4, Bolden 3, Bamba 1, Reddish 1), Hamilton Heights 9 (Alexander-Walker 4, Shelton-Szmidt 3, Gilgeous-Alexander 2).
(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @larryfleming44)