Hart Hands Burroughs First League Loss

Burroughs High already has won the war, but rival Hart won the battle Friday night, and in convincing fashion, as the Indians knocked off Burroughs, 94-79, in a Foothill League rematch at Hart.

Burroughs (16-6, 8-1 in league play), which had already clinched the league title and defeated Hart three weeks ago, certainly had less incentive in playing Hart (12-10, 6-3), which still was fighting to keep pace with second-place Schurr.

Hart’s attitude was something along the lines of: Ready or not, here we come.

Said Hart Coach Greg Herrick: “I don’t think it taints the victory for us. We played our best game of the year. Did they have a mental letdown? I don’t know. You’d have to ask them.”

Well, how about it, Ira Sollod?

“We played hard,” the Burroughs coach said. “Give them credit, they played well. They did a good job on us defensively, and that was the key.

“But we made them look better, giving up 94 points.”

Hart guard Micah Ohlman scored a team-high 24, including 6 of 9 three-point-shots.

“Our goal was to spoil their 10-0 record in league,” Ohlman said. “We stayed tough until the end. I just shot the normal shot and it started falling.”

The lead changed hands seven times in the first half before Ohlman’s soft jump shot gave Hart a 39-37 halftime lead.

Hart, which will play Schurr in a showdown for second place Friday, opened the second half with an 8-2 run and held off the rival Indians for the remainder of the game.

Burroughs, led by senior forward Dan Murphy (24 points) and center Tom Clemons (game-high 27 points), mounted several threats but Hart thwarted every one.

“You’re never going to completely stop Murphy,” Herrick said. “He’s quality. The best we could do is contain him.”

As for Clemons, he scored most of his baskets with seemingly easy drives to the basket.

Clemons fouled out in the fourth quarter and gestured at the Hart crowd with a triumphant finger as he headed for the bench. “We took the game like any other,” Clemons said. “Our goal was to go 10-0 in league, but maybe winning the league took some of the pressure off.”

Brothers Chad (16 points, 6 of 8 free throws) and Rusty (15 points) Fotheringham also contributed for Hart.