Boys Basketball: Hebron downs Morgan to win first PCC title

Updated: January 21, 2012 10:44PM

HEBRON — The postgame scene at Hebron High School, with the theme song from “Rocky” blaring in the background and Hebron players cutting down pieces of the net while John Steinhilber worked the gym, getting hugs from every person who was close to him or the program, was slightly surreal.

Didn’t seem possible for Hebron a couple of years ago, a team that hadn’t ever won a Porter County Conference Tournament.

Not only was it possible, it’s very real now after the Hawks walloped Morgan Township on Saturday 58-34 for their first PCC title.

There was nothing accidental about this win. Hebron is a well-oiled machine that likes to play fast and get the ball inside to its big man, Cody Artuso, when the opportunity is there.

The Hawks did both against the Cherokees — forcing 21 turnovers with its full court pressure.

Artuso did his part too, scoring 24 and pulling down 11 rebounds in a game that was only close for the first quarter.

It was a sweet win for Steinhilber, who had two PCC championship trophies with South Central. He wanted one bad for his kids.

“This means a lot to me,” he said. “More than the sectional I won in 2000 (at Calumet).”

For Artuso, getting the trophy was something he always wanted.

“I dreamed about winning this when I was in grade school,” he said.

The Hawks, with the help of its full court pressure, started to blow the game open in the second quarter.

A basket by Damon Wallace with 6:58 left in the half gave Hebron an 18-10. The Cherokees had turned the ball over three straight times in the backcourt, helping Hebron to its 10-0 run. Hebron stretched the lead to 13 at half-time. With 3:41 left in the third quarter, they led 48-25. By then, the game was history.

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