Northeastern boys claim another Wayne County championship with win over Hagerstown
HAGERSTOWN, Ind. — The Tigers did exactly what head coach Chad Romack wanted them to do.
Following their semifinal win over Centerville Friday, Romack said his team would be in a good position to compete with 15th-ranked Northeastern Saturday if it could gain some momentum early and still be in the game after the first quarter.
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It didn’t happen right away, as both teams missed a few shots in the first couple minutes. Hagerstown senior Gabe Warvel hit a 3-pointer to get the game’s scoring underway, and that sparked a few more buckets. All of a sudden, the teams were trading baskets, and the crowd was getting into it. After every score, turnover or foul, there was a loud roar from one side of the arena.
The Tigers only trailed 12-10 after the first quarter. The crowd was with them. They had momentum. They were still in the game. They did exactly what their coach wanted them to do.
“The intensity was there. They were focused. They were ready to play,” Romack said. “That was the big thing I wanted to see from them is we come out and take the fight to Northeastern, and we did that for the first quarter. Then, our weakness showed from there on out.”
The Knights took over, outscoring Hagerstown 47-10 the rest of the way to earn a 59-20 win and their eighth Wayne County Tournament title in the last nine years.
Northeastern head coach Brent Ross said he was a little surprised at how slow of a pace Hagerstown played to start the game, and he gave Romack credit for executing his game plan right out of the gate. Once the Knights started playing at the quick pace they’re used to, the Tigers’ chances were as good as gone.
“Our kids don’t like playing the slower pace, and it affected us,” Ross said. “Once we settled down a little bit and got patient, we were able to slowly grind and build a lead. If you can get a little bit of a lead, it’s harder (for Hagerstown) to hold the ball when you’re behind.”
The speed of the game caught up to the Tigers, and you could see, with each mistake, they knew it was slipping away. Earlier in the game, Hagerstown junior Mason Romack tried to break Northeastern’s defensive press — something Chad Romack said his team struggles with — and tripped over his own feet to turn the ball over. Face to the floor, he smacked the court as he slowly stood back up with a look on his face that said it all: That can’t happen. In the fourth quarter, game already out of reach, Warvel dribbled the ball off his foot, and it rolled out of bounds. He hung his head for a moment before rolling his eyes as if to say, “I’m better than that.”
The Knights’ size also played a big factor. Four of their starters are at least 6-foot-3, and the Tigers’ tallest player is just 6-foot-1. Northeastern had its way with Hagerstown in the post and on the boards. Senior Raedhyn Foust and junior Grant Luebbe led all scorers with 14 points apiece, and senior Payton Lumpkin grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.
Despite all the odds against them, the Tigers’ effort remained constant throughout the night. With just seconds left in the game, freshman Anthony Kelley dove into his own bench to try to save a loose ball, prompting an ovation from the crowd and the rest of his team.
That speaks to what this game and this tournament means to the players and what it brings out of them.
Related: ‘So much fun’: Northeastern, Hagerstown girls leave it all on floor in Wayne County final
“I’m a big believer in the county tourney. I don’t care who plays in it, but I’m a big believer that we have it,” Ross said. “Tonight was a sectional-like atmosphere when we walked into the girls’ game. Our kids like playing in it, and I love it … I noticed Centerville and Lincoln kids here as well. It’s what makes it fun. If we would happen to lose, I know our kids would come and watch as well. It’s a county.”
The Knights have now won the last four Wayne County Tournament championships, tying their streak from 2014-17. It’s still a way off from Centerville’s reign from 2005-12, but they’ll look to get one step closer in 2023.
Zach Piatt reports on sports and education for The Palladium-Item. Contact him at zpiatt@gannett.com or on Twitter @zachpiatt13.
This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Northeastern boys claim Wayne County title with win over Hagerstown
