After scoring just 12 points in the first half at Winfield-Mt. Union on Thursday, the Hillcrest Ravens came out of the locker room determined to be more aggressive. 

Grant Bender hit all four of his free throw attempts in the final minute to cut the lead to four twice, but the Wolves were able to answer at the line on the other end to seal a 48-43 victory in the district semifinal. 

The Ravens scored nine points from the free throw line in the second half after not attempting any free throws in the first half. 

“We asserted ourselves more in the second half, looking to drive it and get to the free throw line,” Hillcrest coach Dwight Gingerich said. “We tightened up the defense and flat out played harder. Our pressure on the ball improved and we did a better job of denying the ball to their bigs, fronting them with backside help.”

Down eight points with under two minutes to play, Aiden Krabill and Seth Ours forced a turnover, which led to a Luke Schrock 3-pointer. 

The Ravens stole the ball on the next possession and had a chance to get the deficit to one possession, but the Wolves 6-foot-6 sophomore Abram Edwards contested the shot near the basket and the Ravens would get no closer than four. 

Edwards went 4-of-6 at the free throw line and finished with eight points. Cam Buffington was 8-of-11 at the line, totaling 22 points and 12 rebounds, including six at the offensive end. 

Schrock was 3-of-7 from the 3-point line and led the Ravens with 15 points. Bender had 14 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots. Ours was 2-for-3 from outside to finish with six.

Krabill had three points, two assists and two steals in his final game for Hillcrest Academy. 

The Ravens finish the season at 15-7, with a record of 12-4 in conference play. 

This year’s Hillcrest squad had to replace a pair of first-team all-conference selections in the lineup. And has played without second-team all-conference guard Noah Miller since his injury in December. 

“Our kids kept at it, and never really wavered from working hard to be the best we could be,” Dwight Gingerich said. “I am proud of the effort our guys put forth, and had someone told me we'd be 15-7 without Noah Miller by season end, I'd have been pleasantly surprised. 

“At the time Noah got hurt, he was clearly our team leader, our floor general, best defender and was shooting the ball better than he ever has. It's been a tremendous inspiration for our team and for me to have him come to practice nearly every day all season despite not being able to play.” 

In addition to Miller’s injury, the Ravens lost Jace Rempel for a month due to a concussion.

“In the process, all of our guys had to grow up quick,” Gingerich said. “Aiden Krabill did a great job of providing senior leadership on the court, and our freshmen worked hard to learn and grow in our system. Seth Ours was playing like a veteran and our other freshmen, Mason Bender and Bryce Bailey in particular, grew to where they could provide depth in needed situations off the bench.”

Ours was one of the best 3-point shooters in the conference as a freshman at over 40 percent. His 36 made 3-pointers ranked fourth in the SEISC North.

Bender and Schrock both finished among the top five in the conference in free throws made per game, and Ours led the conference shooting over 94 percent from the line  

Bender finished third in conference in scoring at 18 points per game, and second in field goal percentage at over 60 percent. 

“Grant Bender's improvement from a year ago was tremendous, as he became a dynamic force for us,” Gingerich said.

“Luke Schrock got better and better through the season and was playing his best ball here late, which is what we love to see. Jace Rempel and Josiah Beachy improved to the end and it was great to see Jace knock down big shots down the stretch.

“I think we improved and became better at both ends of the court all the way to the end of the season.”