Tyler Harris, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
WAVERLY — You’ve heard it said before.
“Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games.”
That is exactly what Manchester got on Wednesday from Parker Hayslip.
The junior guard pieced together an exceptional all-around performance as he poured in 21 points alongside seven assists and six rebounds to lead his Greyhounds to a 54-42 victory over Southern in a Division VII district semifinal.
“He’s our best player and our best scorer,” Manchester coach Austin Kingsolver said of Hayslip. “I love Parker. He does a lot for us and for him to get going early is big for us.”
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
Hayslip didn’t disappoint as he came out scorching hot in the first quarter, racking up six points and two assists to get the Greyhounds (13-11) out to an early 9-0 lead, forcing the Tornadoes to take a timeout.
It didn’t help.
Manchester came out of the timeout with buckets immediately from Elijah Crabtree and Braylan Roberts, which put the Greyhounds in front at 15-4 after a quarter.
Southern (17-7) finally found some offensive rhythm, dropping in 11 points in the second, thanks in large part to two triples from Brandon Laudermitt and Lane Edwards.
But the Greyhounds returned the favor, scoring 10 points of their own with Hayslip and Crabtree leading the way to a 25-15 advantage at halftime.
“Those two guys are just great basketball players,” Kingsolver said. “Parker and Elijah have been playing together a long time, but as a whole, we share the ball really well. Elijah just knows where to be and Parker does a great job of finding him for some easy baskets.”
As the third quarter got underway, the Greyhounds picked up right where they left off — namely, Hayslip and Crabtree.
The duo combined for 12 of the team’s 16 points in the frame and the team racked up five assists, pushing their lead to 41-26 heading to the fourth.
“We know we move the ball really well as a group,” Kingsolver remarked. “Leland Horner is one of the best passers in the league and in general, we share the ball really well. At times, too well, and that caused some turnovers for us tonight. But I’ll take that if it means 15 assists in a night.”
Southern was finally able to punch back with its defense in the fourth.
As the Tornadoes ratcheted down on that end and created some chaos for Manchester, they also rattled off a 13-3 run, creating four turnovers in the process.
Laudermitt capped off the run with a grown-man bucket and a free throw to boot, forcing Kingsolver to take a timeout and calm his guys down with their lead shrunk to just four at 44-40.
“We knew we needed to rebound and box out better.” Kingsolver said, “We gave up some second chances and lapsed in that area a little bit in the fourth, but we just knew that when it counted, we needed to do those things well and we’d be alright.”
As the clock wound down, the Greyhounds ended the game in the way they started — with the ball in Hayslip’s hands.
He knocked down four stone-cold free throws to stretch the lead back to eight, 48-40, and they never looked back, ending the game with 11 straight free throws to cap a victory and a district final berth.
Following Hapslip’s numbers for Manchester was Crabtree, who poured in 19 points of his own on the night. Horner chipped in with four points, four assists and five rebounds.
Landon Everson and Kase Nelson had nine points each for the Tornadoes.
As Southern’s season ends, Manchester advances to a Division VII district final at 8 p.m. on Sunday at Ohio University’s Convocation Center against Notre Dame, who defeated Green to advance.
BOX SCORE
Manchester: 15-10-16-13 — 54
Southern: 4-11-11-16 — 42
Manchester: 17-41 FG, 3-10 3pt., 17-19 FT, 24 Rebounds (Hayslip 6, Rickett 6, Horner 5, Roberts 5), 16 Assists (Hayslip 7, Horner 4). Scoring: Hayslip 21, Crabtree 19, Roberts 7, Horner 4, Rickett 3.
Southern: 17-52 FG, 4-13 3pt., 4-6 FT, 20 Rebounds (Chandler 4, Laudermitt 4, Nelson 4), 7 Assists (Chandler 2, Laudermitt 2). Scoring: Everson 9, Nelson 9, Laudermitt 8, Wickline 5, Chandler 4, Lewis 4, Edwards 3.
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