Hawken turned back the clock with its 52-51 last-second win over Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin in a Division IV district championship on Saturday at North Ridgeville.
Da’Ron Moore’s lay-in and a defensive stand in the closing seconds clinched the Hawks’ first district championship since 1988.
“It all went by so quick,” Hill told Ben Hercik of The News-Herald. “I’m glad (Jordan Johnson) found me because honestly, I didn’t know I was going to be open. It’s a wonderful feeling. It was a great play drawn up by Coach (Anthony) Burns around the block.”
Charlie Mallett and Greg Price set screens on the game-winning play and Johnson recorded the assist.
Hill finished with a team-high 15 points and Price added 14, but they didn’t find their grooves until the second half.
Ice Taylor scored eight of his 10 in the first half to keep the Hawks in the game.
With the game tied 35-35 heading into the fourth, the Hawks took the lead on a Price 3-pointer.
Later, after NDCL responded to take a 51-50 lead, the Hawks had one final possession to secure their first district title since Jordache jeans were all the rage.
“When I drew it up (the game-winner), they believed in it and ran it the right way,” Burns told The News-Herald. “It worked out.”
With the win, the Hawks advanced to the regional finals at Bowling Green where they’ll face off against Elida.
