Boys Basketball: Hazel Green 74, Buckhorn 43

By Carlton Rice |
on November 30, 2012 9:38 p.m.
  • 11/30 - 7:30 PM Boys BasketballFinal
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NEW MARKET, Alabama -- Class 6A runner-up Hazel Green made a statement on Friday night -- the Trojans have no intention of being a one-year wonder.

The third-ranked Trojans blew open the game in the third quarter and rolled to a 73-43 win over eighth-ranked Buckhorn in the Area 16 opener for both schools.

“It’s like a war,” said Hazel Green  coach Todd Jeffers. “It’s both teams first area game, it’s a rivalry game, and life on the road is not easy. We told them (our guys) before we came in. We pride ourselves on getting stops. Tonight we were able to do that. We got
stops and made some baskets off those stops.”

Buckhorn (5-2, 0-1) led briefly, 8-4 in the first quarter. Hazel Green (7-2, 1-0) then scored nine unanswered points and never looked back following. The Trojans led 22-16 at the end of the first quarter. Buckhorn pulled to within two points 33-31, but never gained an edge. Hazel Green led 39-31 at halftime.

It was apparent early in the third quarter that the Trojans discovered what needed to be done defensively to keep the momentum going down the stretch.

“We just didn't get any stops,” said Buckhorn coach Jay Burney. “When we got stops, we gave up loose balls and when we got stops, we just couldn't score. We've got to learn from it and get better.”

Hazel Green held the Bucks to two points in the final quarter. Lewis Sullivan led Hazel Green with 19 points. Austin Dempsey had 16, Ethan Stair 14 and Parker Cothren 10. Justin Ward led Buckhorn with 10 points