Hornets win County Championship over Eagles
The Highland Rim Hornets finished in the top spot of the County Basketball Tournament for the second consecutive year.
The Hornets won over South Lincoln’s Eagles 49-33.
This years event was held at Ninth Grade Academy.
Both teams finished the regular season with 7-1 records. Highland Rim chose the two seed after a coin toss. The Hornets advanced with a 55-29 win over Unity. The Eagles defeated Flintville 57-38 to move to the championship round.
Twice in the preseason Lions Club Tip Off Tournament the teams met. Both match ups went into overtime. The Hornets claimed them both.
Tuesday night the Eagles were without starting point guard Tyler Speck who was injured in South Lincoln’s semifinal game with Flintville.
The Hornets did what they needed to do; shut down the Eagles inside game and shoot the ball well from the floor.
"We set goals in October as a team," said Coach Heath DeHart. "We wanted to play aggressive defensive, share the ball, maintain good moral character and repeat as county champs."
"This team included many new faces and some lack of experience at the beginning, Coach DeHart continued. "So we had to work together as a team and learn our roles and do our jobs"
"I’m very proud to be a part of this Highland Rim basketball team. Almost all players are on high honor rolls each nine weeks. I feel this speaks volumes for the character and work ethic of these young men."
"Coming into this championship game, we had a 3-1 record against South so both teams knew what to expect," he continued. "We needed to control the tempo and win the boards. I’m very pleased with the effort from the team as a whole including our bench calling out cutters and helping keep the guys on the floor pumped up."
With a packed house it got off to a slow start. The Eagles were up 6-5 at the end of the first quarter.
But the Hornets dominated the second winning the period 19-6 with 9 points coming from Tyler McCown. At the intermission Highland Rim was up 24-12.
South edged out the third 11-10 with five points coming from R.J. Slayton. The Hornets were up 34-23 at the end of the period.
The eleven-point margin was as close as it would get. Highland Rim won the final frame 15-10 to finish with the win.
Tyler McCown set the pace for the Hornets with 19 points. Ryan Hall added 13. Logan Wheat had 8; Eli Eason, 7; and Cole Beddingfield scored 2.
Highland Rim was 15 of 45 from the paint and 4 of 8 from the arch. From the line the Hornets were 7 of 13 shooting 59 percent.
McCown finished hitting 3 from the arch and Eason had one.
South Lincoln was led by Devonte Jones and Blake Bassham with 8 points. RJ. Slayton had 7; Nick Barnes, 6; Eli Slayton and Like Phillips scored 2.
The Eagles were 14 of 39 from the paint and 0 for 8 from the arch. From the line South Lincoln was 5 of 12 for 42 percent.
South Lincoln won the boards 39-35. Highland Rim generated 15 points of 21 miscues by the Eagles. The Hornets had 15 turnovers.
