You felt that way about Hardy because of how that season progressed. If I asked you if you felt that way when Hardy was a junior - when Norm didn't know what he had with him or Brownlee - you wouldn't have felt better with him having the ball at any time than Ponds.
I get that Hardy wasn't as talented as Ponds, and probably had a better supporting cast. But there was a level of confidence I had, when he had the ball in his hands in the waning minutes of games that has not been close to replicated in Harrison or Ponds.
Dwight Hardy was a completely different player as a senior. Ponds may be too by the time he gets there.
I definitely disagree with your premise. That season progressed the way it did mostly because Hardy had the ball in his hands at crucial moments.
I completely appreciate and understand the difference in talent between Ponds and Hardy.