HANCEVILLE – Knowing a highly anticipated rematch awaited them, the Cold Springs Eagles raise the performance level to an extreme high Monday evening in the quarterfinals of the Cullman County High School Basketball Tournament.
The Eagles shot their way past the Fairview Aggies 72-39 to set up a semifinal showdown Friday against defending tournament champion and No. 1 seed Holly Pond.
This will be the third meeting between the pair that are ranked high in the state basketball poll in their respective class. Cold Springs is currently 3rd in Class 2A and Holly Pond sits second in the latest 3A state rankings.
The two played in the finals last season bringing the banner of No. 1 ranks from the state poll. Both have split their last four regular season games since 2014, leading to a confrontation at a neutral site with a large crowd once again expected.
Eight minutes into the game, the Eagles were challenged by the Aggies who were trying to end a string of 13 consecutive losses. Cold Springs held a 21-16 lead and Fairview seemed ready to stay with the Eagles as the game moved on.
But that changed. Cold Springs held Fairview scoreless until the last second when a three from the top by Bryson Fletcher was good. When the half ended, the Eagles were in control, leading 43-22.
Cold Springs used a solid first-half shooting effort by Josh Freeman who was seven for eight plus four made baskets from sharp shooter Triston Chambers. Chambers also broke the Aggies down by hitting five straight from the line after missing his first two.
The Eagles were 13 of 19 in two-point field goals, compared to Fairview going 0-8 from inside the arch in the opening half. The difference in the game was the 22-3 run during the middle quarter.
Cold Springs went from 21 points in the first to 22 in the second and tallied 23 during the third period. That allowed Tim Willoughby to rest starters for the final frame, with the Eagles ahead 66-31.
Chambers would score 24 in this quarterfinal while Freeman finished with 20 on eight of 10 from the floor. A third weapon was added in this game in Eli Hamby. Hamby collected 15, scoring eight in the second half and had a sharp eye from three-point land, making four of five.
The Eagles are now 17-5 in having three days to prepare for their arch rival with a berth to the championship game awaiting the winner.
Fairview was led by Austin Fletcher with 12, Tyler Ball 11 and Bryson Fletcher eight.
Holly Pond 58, Vinemont 15 (Girls)
While Josh Freeman was 80 percent in his performance, Holly Pond guard Ruth Horton took the game into her hands in the opening half, ripping shots from the wing position behind the three-point circle. The junior guard had 17 points by the break, going five of six from downtown and the three-time champion Lady Broncos were up at the half 35-9.
An 18-2 run broke the battle open in the closing moments of the first quarter.
Horton got 19 points in the 15th win of the year for the Lady Broncos, shooting five of seven in three-pointers.
Supporting Horton was Melissa Clingman and Lauren Camp with eight each, Haley Higginbotham seven. Holly Pond dominated the boards by a margin of 41-19, beating the Lady Eagles on the offensive side with 20 that led to many second chance scoring opportunities.
Laura Smithson tossed in a couple of treys for Vinemont with Zoe Thomas scoring four and leading the team with eight rebounds and two assists.
Holly Pond has a semifinal date Thursday at 7:30 p.m. vs. the winner of the Cold Springs-West Point game.
Fairview 39, Cold Springs 31 (JV)
The Aggies were the first to claim a berth to championship Saturday, turning back an upset bid by the 5th seed Eagles.
Fairview’s lead was just 11-10 following the first period then it went to 19-15 at the half and extended to 30-20 following play in the third.
Jacob Hill paced the No. 1 seed Aggies with 13 points, Grant Howard delivered 10 and Preston Moore punched in six.
Leading the Eagles was Noah Henderson with 11, three shots from long range, Dylan Byrd eight and Matt Reed five.
The Aggies will play the winner of Holly Pond-West Point in the JV championship at 5 p.m. Saturday at Tom Drake Coliseum.
