Quinton Grove knew it was coming Monday night and the Hawks’ senior guard was ready.

No fear, right boys?

Grove accepted the challenge of taking the open looks from the perimeter and he was one of three South Hamilton players to bury two 3-pointers in a 62-40 rout of Union in a Class 2A District 14 quarterfinal on Coach Jim Marsh Court.

Starting with a Tycin Barkema triple from the top of the key less than two minutes in, South Hamilton (13-7) rained in seven 3-pointers to exploit the Knights’ defense that was geared to slow down post players Cade Balvanz and Austin Busch.

Quinton Grove (left) comes up with a steal during the second half of South Hamilton’s 62-40 win over Union on Monday in Jewell. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

“Last Friday against Roland-Story, there were times where I had shots and didn’t take them, but I went back and watched film, saw those openings and (Monday night) I took the shots,” Grove said. “We’ve been up and down on our 3-point shooting and right now we’re shooting at a good clip. It’s like coach (Matt Juber) says, if you’re open, shoot it, and guys are finally buying in.”

Grove was masterful in ensuring his basketball career extended at least a few more days. He led all players with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and he sprinkled in five assists and three steals as well.

Doran Lutjen came off the Hawks’ bench to rattle in two 3s and score 12 points. Reserve Freddie Lewis also dialed it up from long distance twice and finished with nine points. Balvanz again faced double teams throughout the contest, but still managed eight points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals.

South Hamilton owned the boards, as it out rebounded Union 40-14, including 15-0 on the offensive glass. Yes, that’s right, the Hawks didn’t allow a single second-chance opportunity for the Knights.

Busch, a late-season addition to the starting lineup, was a big reason for the rebounding dominance. He collected eight himself and swatted numerous other caroms to teammates. He tracked down rebounds in the corners, he dove on the floor, he forced jump balls, and on and on his energetic effort went.

Freddie Lewis (20) puts up a floater on a baseline drive against Union on Monday. He scored nine points in South Hamilton’s 62-40 rout. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

“He’s just the energizer bunny,” Grove said of Busch, who also scored four points. “He goes after everything and he’s giving 100 percent all the time. It’s awesome.”

Juber agreed.

“The ball is worth a hundred bucks to Austin and he’s going to get it. He’s not afraid of contact and he’s just relentless.”

Perhaps a bit nervous early, South Hamilton fell behind 11-9 before a timeout. Whatever Juber said worked because the Hawks ripped off the next eight points and went on a 15-2 burst to take command for good.

Grove poured in 12 of his points in the first half to help the Hawks build a 27-18 advantage. Lutjen then hammered the Knights from the perimeter in the third quarter to help push the margin to 18 points, 44-26.

South Hamilton’s Austin Busch (left) forces a jump ball against Union Monday night in Jewell. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Union didn’t go away though. A seven-point flurry early in the fourth trimmed South Hamilton’s lead to 13, 46-33, but a Lewis three-point play in transition, followed by a 3 from the left wing by the junior silenced the Knights for good.

Devin Reel was the lone Knight in double figures with 13 points, 12 of them coming from outside the arc.

South Hamilton will face South Hardin (15-6) in a district semifinal on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in Parkersburg. The two teams met in Eldora on Feb. 1 and the Tigers prevailed on a buzzer-beater by Kael Carr, 62-60.

Juber says his team needs to return to its roots a bit when it steps onto the floor against South Hardin.

“We have to go back to the mentality that we had at the beginning of the season when there weren’t too many people that believed in us,” he said. “We’ve got to play with an edge, a chip on our shoulder.”

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Aplington-Parkersburg and Hudson will meet in the other district semifinal at 8 p.m. The winners will meet in the district final in Iowa Falls next Tuesday.

South Hamilton 62, Union 40

Class 2A District 14 Quarterfinal

Monday at Jewell

Union (4-18) — Caleb Reel 2 2-2 6, Brandon Tompkins 2 1-2 5, Brayden Gross 3 0-0 7, TJ Freeland 2 0-0 4, Devin Reel 4 1-2 13, Trevor Davis 0 0-0 0, Mark Mahood 1 1-2 3, Grant Behrens 1 0-0 2, Henry Powers 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 5-8 40.

South Hamilton (13-7) — Brock Galetich 0 0-0 0, Carter Hewitt 0 0-0 0, Tycin Barkema 1 0-0 3, Sam McNally 0 1-2 1, Doran Lutjen 5 0-0 12, Ty Skartvedt 1 0-0 2, Austin Busch 1 2-4 4, Quinton Grove 6 3-4 17, Freddie Lewis 3 1-2 9, Kyler Hodnefield 2 0-0 4, Nic Flaugh 0 0-0 0, Cade Balvanz 4 0-0 8, Cade Flaugh 0 0-0 0. Totals: 24 7-11 62.

Union 11 7 8 14 — 40

S. Ham. 15 12 17 18 — 62

3-point field goals — Union 5 (D. Reel 4, Gross); SH 7 (Grove 2, Lutjen 2, Lewis 2, Barkema). Rebounds — SH 40 (Grove 12, Busch 8, Balvanz 8). Steals — SH 12 (Grove 3, Balvanz 2). Assists — SH 13 (Grove 5, Balvanz 4). Turnovers — SH 10. Team fouls — Union 10, SH 10. Fouled out — none.