Boys Basketball: Hawks take final South County title

Updated: December 23, 2011 11:34PM

VALPARAISO — In the 75th and final year of the South County Tournament, the team that won the inaugural title in the 1937-38 season and the one that has won the most titles over the years came out victorious.

Hebron stifled Kouts for the final three quarters and handed the Mustangs their first loss of the season, 62-50, Friday night in the South County championship game at Morgan Township High School.

“It was kind of like fate,” an emotional Hawks coach John Steinhilber said following the game. “Hebron has played a large role in this tournament, so it was kind of fitting.”

It was Hebron’s 27th South County title. Boone Grove has the second most with 19.

Cody Artuso had 13 of his 16 points and 10 of his 12 rebounds in the second half as Hebron (8-1) overcame a 34-27 halftime deficit. Teammate Damon Wallace scored a game-high 23 points.

The Hawks trailed by as many as 13 in the first half after Kouts came out on fire. The Mustangs hit their first five 3-pointers, but were just 1-of-20 from behind the arc the rest of the way.

Jay Patz’s baseline jumper gave Hebron a 40-39 lead with 2:02 left in the third quarter, and the Hawks never relinquished it.

“Hebron was just extremely aggressive tonight,” said Kouts coach Marty Gaff, whose team beat Hebron 53-41 on Nov. 25. “We lost our composure out there at times. This is a young team, and we’re still learning.”

The Hawks forced Kouts into eight third-quarter turnovers and outscored the Mustangs 16-7 in the period to take control of the game.

“We just told the kids in the first half to weather the storm,” Steinhilber said.

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