A moment to remember: SHG secures Class 3A state title in game-winning shot
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — It took a whole lot of tenacity, perseverance, and as coach Tim Allen spotlights, “Championship Grit”, to win in double overtime in the big lights of Champaign against Metamora 53-50, off Ke’ Shon Singleton’s game-winning three! When you casually hear the like-minded references to this great football powerhouse, the word champion might not surprise you, but this group of talented young men of SHG, wanted more and they did it on the court!
The state championship matchup seemed very even. Both had a 1st and 3rd team All-State performer, in Jake Hamilton and Zack Hawkinson for SHG, and for Metamora, Ethan Kizer and Tyson Swanson. SHG was ranked sixth and Metamora tenth in state polls. Both teams played tough and gritty! Everything you would expect from two programs that took out Chicago powers of St. Ignatious (Loss to SHG in the semi-final), and the NBA producing talents of Simeon (Loss to Metamora in the semi-final).
“My halftime speech was simple,” Coach Allen told me. “We have come too far to lose now. We have worked too hard to not leave it all on the floor for the last 16 minutes!”
Coach’s slogan this year is “I am Third! God, Others, then myself.” That can be appreciated by everyone as important! This team is special in the fact that they really believed in the unselfishness that is needed as true champions!
Coach Allen knew long before this season that his team was talented and could continue what they started two years ago when they were not allowed to finish their 2A playoff run, due to the pandemic. This group of young men did not falter or move away from their passion for the game. The team became a family on and off the court, as Coach Allen knew they could. “Everyone knows the starting five,” Coach Allen said. Every player contributes, it was next man up every day!”
“Coach just trusted in me to make a play whether that’s to shoot the ball or pass it,” Ke’Shon Singleton said in Adam Devall’s Peoria Journal Star story.
‘The ball is loose, and I was like, I got to throw up a prayer to even have a chance, and it went in. I’m just thankful it went in!”
Many teams have great players but, having a truly great team that trusts the process and each other is special! They were great teammates for a spectacular season, and even more importantly they will be family forever!
“I like to build a family atmosphere by doing things outside of basketball. We took a team trip to Dave’ n Busters in St. Louis, we go out to eat, attended together at family functions. Praying together, eating together, and competing together has made us a family, Coach Allen said.
That’s why this team will be remembered not just by stats and trophies, but also with sleepovers at Jake and Will’s, helping the community through charity, and believing the last guy on the bench knows what they need to win!
All five team starters received conference or State recognition. “I’m proud of them,” Coach Allen stated. “Further, the boys know that my greatest goal for them is that they become successful adults and develop a relationship with God. I’m blessed that God let us experience a little Joy in the process.”
Friends of Sweet Spot Living Magazine, Bob and Sandy Hamilton are parents of three boys, their twins, now known as #3, Jake and
# 23, Will for SHG and Charlie, age 21 a junior at Illinois Wesleyan. He plays football and was voted Best Sills Player and MVP for Offense.
There have been so many highs along the way, Sandy said. “This moment in particular!”
“It’s about them,” Bob Hamilton said, in the State Journal Register’s story by Bill Welt. “It’s about them and the players and their teammates now and being able to celebrate because it’s only two or three days, and then that’s it. They’ve just got to appreciate it. “At this point, we don’t have to tell them, you know, ‘Hey, make sure you watch the back cut,’ and things like that. They know that stuff. So really, it’s being supportive and being positive and trying to hide our nervousness from them, pretending that I’m all just under control when I’m just chomping at the bit.”
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