By Bob Hamar
bob.hamar@theindependent.com

But co-coach Rob Kober wouldn't even let his team think about that possibility.

"We told the kids we didn't know if we'd go to state if we lost the game tonight," Kober said. "We told them we only have one chance. Win it and we know we're going."

The Bluehawks don't have to wait for any other results now after a 62-49 victory over the Cardinals Monday at Aurora High School.

St. Cecilia (20-2) got the job done by hitting 34 of 41 shots from the line, including 18 of 21 in the fourth quarter alone.

Matt Sterup and Riley Nikkila did much of the damage. Sterup was a perfect 10 for 10 from the line for 14 points while Nikkila hit 9 of 9 and also scored 14 points.

Sterup, a 6-foot-6 post player, might not be the first player you'd expect to go 10 for 10 from the line.

"Matt is a very good shooter," Kober said. "At the line he shoots very well. He just hasn't shot many. We told him we'd get the ball inside. If you don't make it, they'll foul you."

Meanwhile, the Cardinals (18-4) weren't quite as good from the line. Boone Central made 16 of 23 (69 percent) for the game, but were just 7 of 13 in the final quarter.

"It's been an issue all year," Boone Central coach Chuck Perone said. "The crazy part of it with the same group of kids, we finished the season last year at a real high percentage. Maybe the last 10 games we shot 72 or 73 percent from the foul line, and we just have not shot fouls well all year.

"It's a confidence thing, and we missed some critical, critical foul shots. But we were going to the hoop, we were getting offensive boards and those were huge."

St. Cecilia broke on top early and had a 14-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Bluehawks made 10 of 12 free throws in the second quarter to take a 30-18 lead at the half.

"They're very good on defense," Perone said. "The first half we were very tentative and that was probably the story of the game. The second half we were much more aggressive and much better offensively.

"In the first half we were just way too much back on our heals. They came after us and pushed us out. We didn't answer the bell in the first half."

But even with a 12-point lead, the Bluehawks were far from comfortable. Kober said he knew the Cardinals would come back strong in the second half.

"In their subdistrict that happened to them," Kober said. "They didn't get rattled. They were down and came back and won it. We told our kids they weren't going to quit and they didn't."

Boone Central played the Bluehawks even in the third quarter, then scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to pull to within 42-36 with 6 minutes, 35 seconds left.

Kalvin Zoucha, who led the Cardinals with 13 points, had two baskets in that run.

"He was just fantastic," Perone said of Zoucha. "He went to the boards. He created problems. He just did a great job for us tonight. I'm really pleased with his play. He was tough inside and he went to the basket."

Boone Central got to within 45-41 on two free throws by Jordan Temme with 3:39 remaining, but they could get no closer as the Bluehawks started scoring from the free-throw line.

The Cardinals out rebounded St. Cecilia 35-25. That total includes 17 offensive rebounds, but it wasn't enough on this night.

"Overall it's been a nice season," Perone said. "We're just disappointed. This is a great group of kids. It's a big disappointment when most of these guys are better kids than they are players.

"You could hear a pin drop in our locker room."

HASTINGS SC 62, BOONE CENTRAL 49

HASTINGS SC (20-2)

Sealey 2-4 3-5 7, Hamburger 2-5 1-2 6, Wright 2-7 1-3 5, Nikkila 2-2 9-9 14, M. Sterup 2-4 10-10 14, Esch 1-2 4-4 6, Souchek 0-1 0-0 0, Anstine 1-2 2-2 4, Goedert 0-0 0-0 0, Z Sterup 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-33 34-41 62.

BOONE CENTRAL (18-4)

Shotkoski 1-9 0-0 2, Flanagan 2-6 1-2 5, Dawson 0-0 2-4 2, Michael 4-14 1-3 9, Zoucha 5-8 3-8 13, Dozler 0-1 0-0 0, Hupp 0-0 0-0 0, Temme 1-2 7-8 9, Cook 1-1 1-2 3, Brugman 1-2 1-2 3, Beckwith 0-0 0-0 0, Olson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-43 16-23 62.

Hastings SC 14 16 12 2042

Boone Central 9 9 12 1949

3-Point goals Hastings SC 2-5 (Nikkila 1-1, Hamburger 1-2, Souchek 0-1, Wright 0-1). Boone Central 1-13 (Michael 1-6, Zoucha 0-1, Flanagan 0-1, Shotkoski 0-5). Fouled out Hamburger, Flanagan, Dawson. Rebounds Hastings SC 25 (M. Sterup 8). Boone Central 35 (Zoucha 11). Turnovers Hastings SC 12, Boone Central 15. Total fouls Hastings SC 24, Boone Central 28. Technicals None.