Heritage wins state tournament

March 01, 2008

LANHAM, Md. - The Heritage Academy boys basketball team backed up its title in the Mason Dixon Christian conference with a 58-55 victory over Elkton Christian on Saturday to capture the Maryland Christian State championship.

In concluding the best-ever season at Heritage, the Eagles (25-2) snapped Elkton's 17-game winning streak with clutch 3-point shooting in the fourth quarter and a big 1-and-1 free-throw conversion by Steve Barthalow to secure the championship.

Heritage took the lead for good at the outset of the fourth period at 42-40 on a bucket by Hamilton Stamper, who was the tournament's most valuable player.

With the Eagles up 56-55 with 5.8 seconds remaining, Elkton's Glenn Seguri missed the front end of a one-and-one. Heritage's Cody Butts got the rebound and was fouled, then went to the line and converted two free throws for the final margin of victory.

Barthalow led the Eagles with 24 points and Stamper added 13 points and 14 rebounds.

The clutch free throw shots came at a big time. Heritage was just 7 of 19 from the line at that point.

"We didn't shoot well at the line and that made it very interesting," said coach Mike Kidd. "Elkton was a solid team. Our kids fought even with them and hung in all the way. I'm proud of the whole team and their efforts."

Heritage was participating in the tournament for the fourth straight year. The school previously played in a lower-level Christian tournament, but Kidd said this is the first-ever state championship for the school.

Seguri led Elkton Christian with 13 points.

|

|

|