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Hampshire's Barnett notches win No. 450

Hampshire boys basketball coach Bob Barnett won his 450th career game Monday, but it wasn't easy.

Matt Bridges made 1 of 2 free throws with no time left in regulation, and the Whip-Purs dominated overtime to defeat Machesney Park Harlem, 67-59, on the first day of the Chuck Dayton Holiday Classic in DeKalb.

Hampshire never led in regulation, but trailed just 56-55 after 2 free throws by Bridges. After Harlem's Malik Lightfoot missed the front end of a one-and-one, Hampshire had a final chance to win in regulation. Jake Tuttle's 3-pointer was long, but Bridges was fouled going for the rebound as time expired. He missed the first shot but swished the second sending it to an extra period.

Tuttle scored Hampshire's first 4 points in overtime and the Whip-Purs (8-1) slowly pulled away.

Bridges finished with 19 points and 9 rebounds for Hampshire. Luke Tuttle added 12 points and Brennen Woods had 10. Lightfoot led Harlem with 16 points while Alex Karbarz added 15.

Hampshire started the game with 3 regulars on the bench after they were late for practice. The makeshift lineup fell behind 20-10 after one period. Back at full strength the Whips reeled off a 14-2 run to tie it at 22. That was how the rest of the game went: Harlem would start to pull away Hampshire would battle back to tie, but the Whips could never gain the lead in regulation.

"We got off to a slow start, that was the big thing," Barnett said. "We had some kids who were late, and so we had a makeshift lineup."

Hampshire made just 18 field goals to Harlem's 22, but hit 27 of 38 from the foul line. Bridges made 12 of 14, with 10 coming in the fourth quarter.

Afterward, Barnett took some time to reflect on the milestone.

"I honestly didn't think that I would be around for 450" he said. "I guess something that's just in your blood. This is a good group of kids. I wanted to stick around for this group. I don't know how much longer I'll be doing it. Every year it changes, and some days I'm thinking, 'Nah, I don't want to do it anymore.' "

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