HANCEVILLE– Monday night was a big night for both the Hanceville Bulldogs and the Holly Pond Broncos with the area championship on the line.
Boys
The Broncos controlled the opening tip and the first quarter, jumping out to an early lead thanks to a 14-0 run. Hanceville started to find their shot at the end of the quarter but still found themselves trailing 23-11 after one.
Hanceville continued to shoot well to open the second quarter, going on a 9-0 run to cut the Holly Pond lead to just three and force a timeout from the green and white. Out of timeouts, the Bulldogs kept the pressure on, scoring four more and taking the lead for the first time in the night. However, Holly Pond took the advantage right back by hitting a pair of threes. The points went back and forth for the remainder of the quarter, but it was Holly Pond that would grab the two-point advantage, 33-31, on an easy inbound layup right before the half.
Holly Pond looked as if they were going to pull away in the third, controlling the ball and the tempo, but the Bulldogs was able to keep the Holly Pond lead in check and only trailed by six heading to the final stanza.
Halfway through the fourth, Holly Pond was able to double their lead to 12 thanks to a pair of three-point baskets, prompting a Hanceville timeout. The Broncos would push the lead to 14, but Hanceville was not done. Xavier Malcom put his team on his back, helping to cut the Holly Pond lead in half with 1:01 left to play. Hanceville would get it as close as six, but no closer, as Holly Pond closed out the game and clinched the area with a 59-51 victory.
Girls
Holly Pond kept the momentum and the wins rolling, dropping the Lady Bulldogs 54-45.
Remaining Games
Wednesday, Jan. 27
4 p.m. Junior Varsity Girls – Fairview vs. Cold Springs
5:30 p.m. Varsity Girls – Cold Springs vs. Good Hope
7 p.m. Varsity Boys – Hanceville at Cold Springs
