Published: March 05, 2008 11:53 pm            

Hodges plays on his own terms

TIPTON — Tipton basketball player Matt Hodges showed a well-rounded offensive game in helping the Blue Devils open the season with 15 straight wins. He scored 20 or more points in four games and scored 18 points against Kokomo, which Tipton beat for the first time since the 1993-94 season.

Hodges is showing something just as impressive in the postseason — toughness.

Hodges, a 6-foot senior guard, suffered a potentially season-ending injury against Northwestern on Feb. 5. He tore the ACL and partially tore the meniscus in his left knee when he drove the lane, planted and attempted to explode up for a shot just 36 seconds into the showdown between area powers. He missed the next three games, but has since returned to action in a limited role.

The Blue Devils, with Hodges providing an emotional boost, have gone 4-0 since his return. They won the Class 2A Sectional 40 championship on Monday.

“I think Matt represents the best of what I hope our program is about,” Tipton coach Travis Daugherty said. “The dedication he has shown to his teammates, his school and the town can’t be understated. I think it’s a story people around here are going to talk about for a long time and especially with the success our team has had and now this sectional championship. I think it’s a unique group of guys and Matt is the heart and soul of that group.”

Fittingly, Hodges helped the Blue Devils secure their sectional championship. No. 5 Tipton led No. 6 Oak Hill 65-64 with 17 seconds remaining when he stepped to the free throw line and knocked down both attempts for a three-point lead. Tipton went on for a 68-64 win.

“He gave us some limited minutes [Monday], but with two minutes or so to go in a nip-and-tuck game, I think there was a part of me that decided that he has earned the right to win it or lose it for us. Knowing Matt the way I do, I felt really, really confident he was going to win it and that is exactly what he did,” Daugherty said.

Hodges cracked a smile when asked about his clutch performance.

“I told the kid who fouled me, ‘You fouled the wrong guy’ even though in my head I was nervous,” he said. “I went to the line and [teammate] Kyle Coleman said, ‘You’re a senior, this is what you’ve been working for, now show me.’ I hit them both, then came out of the game and let [Taylor Maxey] finish it on defense and we got the W.”

The Blue Devils improved to 21-2 with the win, their best record since the 1989-90 team finished with an identical mark.

“With or without me, I know the guys are going to play well, but to be out there and even just sitting on the bench and keeping them pumped up is all I need,” Hodges said. “All I really care about is winning. I love my teammates and I love being a part of this team.”

Hodges averaged 14 points per game through the first 15 games. He ripped Twin Lakes for a career-high 27 points and had 24-point performances against Tri-Central and Benton Central.

“Obviously, his ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter has always been an asset of his, but his aggressiveness getting the ball to the basket either to score or to set other people up was a real weapon for us early in the season,” Daugherty said.

Hodges injured his knee on an aggressive drive to the basket against Northwestern. He noted the injury hit him like a ton of bricks.

“I had to go into the locker room and I actually got sick, then I just kind of laid on the floor and cried. I thought it was over,” he said.

Hodges received the dreaded news when a doctor told him he had torn his ACL and damaged his meniscus. But, he received a reprieve when the doctor told him he could try to play since there was little risk of further damage to the knee.

“When he said that, it was an easy decision for me. I am going to play as much as I can on it and have the surgery after the season,” he said.

Hodges missed games against Carroll, Frankfort and Cass while he worked to regain strength in the knee and improve his range of motion, which he noted proved tough because the ACL had knotted up. He picked up a special brace in an attempt to stabilize the knee as much as possible.

Hodges returned to action against Western on Feb. 22. He is averaging 4 points per game in a limited role since his return. He is moving around surprisingly well considering his injury, which he tweaked in the sectional, and he provides perimeter shooting — but he is unable to play his normal attacking style of offense.

“It’s tough because when you’re in the moment of the game, you feel like you can do anything,” he said. “It’s tough not being able to do what I used to be able to do. I just try to tell myself I can’t do that anymore until surgery comes around.”

Daugherty noted Hodges remains as dangerous as ever from the perimeter, and added Hodges makes an impact outside of the boxscore too.

“We scuffled a little bit when he was out because I think none of us realized how much we relied on him for leadership and an emotional edge. It’s a real testament to him that he was not only able to come back from the injury, but that he was able to come back and provide that for us again,” Daugherty said.

Daugherty and Hodges arrived in the Tipton program together — Daugherty as a first-time head coach and Hodges as a freshman. The Blue Devils have improved each season from 8-13 in 2004-05 to 11-11 in 2005-06 to 12-10 last season.

Hodges noted Daugherty and the assistant coaches make everything go and deserve all the credit. He also praised the seniors from the previous teams for laying the foundation for success. Now, he wants to finish what those players started.

“We’re going to do everything we can to win and bring regional, semistate and state home. That’s what we want to do — we want to win a state championship. We have the team to do that if we can just set our mind to it and take it one game at a time,” Hodges said.

        

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