Hamilton holds off Thunder; wins 1st district title since 2016

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — With less than two minutes to play in the Class 2 District 16 boys basketball championship game and Nodaway Valley tying the game up at 59, the Hamilton Hornets found a way to finish the game from the the charity stripe.

3-seed Hamilton topped #1 Nodaway Valley, 66-63, to win the district championship.

The Thunder scored the first two points of game, but after that, Hamilton held a lead for most of the game until the Thunder tied it up at 59.

In that moment, both teams were without starters after fouling out. The Thunder were down Brody McGinness and Hamilton was without the likes of Gage Miller, and the program's all-time leading scorer— Jacob Miller.

The game was tied and Hamilton's Jared Cooley knocked down two free throws to give the lead back to the Hornets, 61-59.

Including those two free throws, Hamilton hit seven free throws down the stretch to finish off the game and win the Class 2 District 16 championship.

The Hornets will play Wellington-Napoleon at 6 p.m. Tuesday night at Mid-Buchanan High School in the Class 2 Sectional round.