By Bob Hamar
bob.hamar@theindependent.com

Hampton trailed Bruning-Davenport by two points as the clock wound down. Bamesberger found himself in the deep corner. There was nothing to do but shoot it up, just like he's done hundreds of times in practice.

"I've practiced that shot quite a few times," Bamesberger said.

Bamesberger drilled the shot to give the Hawks a one-point lead.

Bruning-Davenport had one last chance after a time out, but Garrett Hoins 3-pointer at the buzzer grazed off the rim and Hampton had secured a 45-44 victory in the first round of the Class D-2 state basketball tournament Thursday at Lincoln East.

"As soon as it left my hand, I knew it was going in," Bamesberger said. "The play wasn't drawn up for me. It was drawn up for Dwayne (Wall), but my guy covered him. I stepped up. He dished it to me and I made the shot."

This one was extra special. Not only does it move the Hawks (20-4) into the 8:45 p.m. D-2 semifinal against Pleasanton, but it gave coach Jerry Eickhoff the 648th win of his career.

That tied the all-time state record held by Spalding Academy's Ed Colloran.

"It's everything," Bamesberger said of the victory. "We're guaranteed two more games. It's a chance to play Pleasanton, the No. 1 seed.

"One more win until we get coach Eickhoff the state record for the winningest coach. We want to get that accomplished."

Eickhoff said it was nice to see a senior like Bamesberger step up and hit the big shot.

"That was fitting," Eickhoff said. "He's a good perimeter shooter. He took it with confidence. That's what we talked about. You have to want to be there.

"We've had so many that haven't gone in. Thank God for that shot. It was a heck of a shot."

The shot ruined a big Bruning-Davenport comeback. The Hawks came out hot early in the third as Wall nailed two 3-pointers to help them stretch a 22-19 lead to 33-19 with 4 minutes, 28 seconds left in the third quarter.

Eickhoff said that run took a bit out of his team.

"We got a little tired after that," Eickhoff said. "We put a lot of energy into that. When we played Sacred Heart (in the district final) the last time we didn't come out the third quarter and they took it too us. We were determined that wasn't going to happen again. We stepped up and made some shots."

Hampton held a 35-28 lead at the end of the third quarter, but Bruning-Davenport kept chipping into that lead. A rebound basket by Seth Williams pulled the Storm to within 42-41 with 53 seconds left. Brent Houchin scored inside, was fouled and made the free throw for a 44-42 Bruning-Davenport lead with 26 seconds left.

That set the stage for Bamesberger's game winner.

The Hawks, with just one player over 6-1, had to work hard against Bruning-Davenport's two 6-4 players, Houchin and Seth Williams.

"That was a heck of a game," Eickhoff said. "Both teams just played their hearts out. We had to scrap so hard to try and shut down their inside game. The officials were calling a lot of touch fouls. That's fine. You just have to adjust to those."

This was Hampton's first trip to the state tournament since 1994. That year, the Hawks advanced to the state championship game before losing to Humphrey St. Francis.

HAMPTON 45, BRUNING-DAVENPORT 44

HAMPTON (20-4)

Dose 2-4 2-4 6, Wall 4-8 6-10 15, Kohtz 3-7 0-0 8, Dylan Bamesberger 3-8 2-2 9, Ediger 0-3 0-0 0, Arnett 1-3 0-0 2, Garrison 0-3 0-0 0, DJ Bamesberger 2-4 1-4 5. Totals 15-43 10-18 45.

BRUNING-DAVENPORT (20-6)

Dowdy 3-4 2-3 8, Jagels 1-5 2-2 5, Hoins 4-11 0-2 10, Williams 3-5 0-3 6, Houchin 3-7 7-9 13, Pearson 0-0 0-0 0, Krigge 0-0 0-0 0, Meyer 1-2 0-2 2. Totals 15-37 11-17 44.

Hampton 11 11 13 10 45

Bruning-Davenport 13 6 9 16 44

3-point goalsHampton 5-10 (Kohtz 2-3, Wall 2-3, Dylan Bamesberger 1-2, Dose 0-1, Garrison 0-1). Bruning-Davenport 3-9 (Hoins 1-4, Jagels 1-4, Dowdy 0-1). Fouled outNone. ReboundsHampton 26 (Ediger 9). Bruning-Davenport 28 (Williams 6, Houchin 6). TurnoversHampton 11, Bruning-Davenport 15. Total foulsHampton 19, Bruning-Davenport 20. TechnicalsNone.