BY JIM MISUNAS
INMAN – Ellinwood's best chance to return to the state basketball tournament since 1984 hit a late roadblock.
Ellinwood's trio of standouts was down to one superstar after David Hammeke fouled out and Tyler Stuhlsatz departed after a collision. Hammeke scored six points and missed valuable time. Stuhlsatz also added six points.
Eagle Britton Dutton enjoyed an inspired 16-point outing after rallying from an ankle sprain. His late 6-point outburst got the Eagles within 42-37 with 12 seconds left. But it was too little, too late.
Sterling escaped Ellinwood's bid 43-37 to capture the Inman 2A basketball substate behind 13 points from Tyus Wilson and 12 points by Brady Myers. The Eagles (18-5) fought and clawed in their best season in 36 years.
"The kids fought hard to get back into the game. We didn't play very well, or nearly as well as we had been playing," said Ellinwood coach Derek Joiner. "We didn't run our offense right and kicked some possessions away. We were not ready offensively."
A critical stretch swung Sterling's way with a 37-31 lead after Stuhlsatz was sidelined with 2:08 left. Official Terry Savoy tagged Ellinwood coach Joiner with a technical and a second technical was whistled on Eagle standout David Hammeke for his fifth foul.
Sterling's Myers converted 1 of 4 free throws, but converted a basket for a 3-point swing and 40-31 lead. Ellinwood lost a valuable possession. The Eagles battled to outscore the Black Bears 6-3 in the final two minutes.
"It was a grind-it-out deal," Joiner said. "We had things go against us. David (Hammeke) was in foul trouble. Britton missed time with an ankle injury. Tyler (Stuhlsatz) never came back with a tailbone injury after he drew a charge."
Sterling's jumping jack Tyus Wilson anchored Sterling's rebounding and defense with several blocks. Supersub Caden Bressler played a critical role with seven points off the bench.
When Ellinwood's Stuhlsatz and Kyler Doll knocked down 3-pointers, Sterling answered with 3-pointers by Bressler and Myers for a 33-24 lead after three quarters.
Sterling 9 15 9 10 – 43
Ellinwood 6 9 9 13 – 37
STERLING (19-4)–Wilson 4-12 4-7 13, Myers 4-12 3-6 12, Wilkey 2-4 1-5 5, Bressler 3-7 0-0 7, Oden 0-2 0-0 0, Weigel 2-2 2-2 6, Totals 15-40 10-20 43.
ELLINWOOD (18-5)–Dutton 5-13 6-6 16, Stuhltsatz 2-7 0-0 6, Hammeke 4-6 1-2 9, Niles 0-1 0-0 0, Doll 1-5 0-0 3, Wondra 0-3 0-0 0, Knop 1-5 0-0 3, Totals 13-40 7-8 37.
3-pointers–S 3 (Myers 1, Wilson 1, Bressler 1), E 4 (Stuhlsatz 2, Doll 1, Knop 1).
