Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

ATHENS — The Oak Hill Oaks are one step from a second trip.

The Oaks — who won the Division IV state championship in 2009 — held off the Piketon Red Streaks Wednesday in the Division III regional semifinals and moved one step closer to a return trip to the state tournament.

The Oaks (22-4) will play Ironton at 7 p.m. on Saturday in the regional championship game.

Oak Hill (22-4) trailed 10-2 but went on an 11-0 run to take the lead for good. It was 16-13 at the end of the quarter.

Piketon failed to score over the final 3:27 of the first quarter and the drought extended into the 3:55 mark of the second quarter as Oak Hill led 28-19 at the break.

The Oaks led by as many as nine points on five different occasions including 39-30at the end of the third quarter.

After missing its first 10 3-point goal attempts, Piketon’s Isaac Brabson finally connected on a triple with 1:35 left that got the Red Streaks within 44-40.

Piketon trailed 46-44 but had the ball with 13 seconds to play. Brabson drove but had his shot blocked by Kyle Love. Brabson rebounded the ball and put up a second shot that was blocked by Luke Hammond who also grabbed the rebound with 1.5 seconds to play.

Oak Hill had three players in double figures led by Haislop with 11. Garrin Stiltner and Love scored 10 each. Hammond pulled down 12 rebounds.

Craigen Moore scored 12 points and Jeremy Farmer 11 to lead Piketon (22-4).

Piketon 13 6 11 14 = 44

Oak Hill 16 12 11 7 = 46

PIKETON (22-4): Isaac Brabson 3 1-2 8, Zak Jordan 0 0-0 0, Evan Ferguson 0 0-0 0, Colten Williams 1 1-1 3, Craigen Moore 5 2-2 12, Wyatt Brewster 1 0-0 2, Zach Farmer 3 2-5 8, Aaron Southworth 0 0-0 0, Jeremy Farmer 5 1-2 11; Totals: 18-50 7-12 44. 3-point goals: 1-11. Rebounds: 31 (Z. Farmer 10, J. Farmer 8). Assists: 8 (Brabson 4). Steals: 5 (J. Farmer 3). Block shots: 5. Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: Williams.

OAK HILL (22-4): Ryan Gaines 2 0-0 4, Garrin Stiltner 3 3-4 10, Drew Haislop 3 4-5 11, Nathan Kidd 3 0-0 7, Kyle Love 5 0-0 10, Luke Hammond 1 2-3 4; Totals: 17-51 9-12 46. 3-point goals: 3-11. Rebounds: 32 (Hammond 12). Assists: 13 (Haislop 5, Stiltner 4). Steals: 11 (Kidd 4, Hammond 3). Turnovers: 11. Blocked shots: 5. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.