11-24-09
BY JACK BULLOCK
CRAB ORCHARD - Having taken over the program just two and a half weeks before the season began and not officially being hired by the school board until 30 minutes before the teams’ first game on Monday night – Hardin County head coach Brett Oxford posted his first career coaching win on Tuesday as his club overcame a four-point deficit in the final quarter for a 48-47 win in the middle game of the three contests played at the Crab Orchard “Turkey” Tournament.

Dylan Davis – the Cougars’ captain and 5-foot-11 senior post player – led all scorers with 22-points and his made free throw with just over a minute left proved to be the margin of victory for Hardin County (1-1).

“By far he (Davis) is our captain of this team and he keeps us together. This feels pretty good as you could tell,” said Oxford – who played at Hardin County just a few years ago and now is the head coach. “A win is a win and two weeks from now it will still look like a win.”

Joppa (0-2) – who was led by Jake Wolfe with 14-points - failed to convert five free throws in the final quarter and ended the game with an 8-20 result from the line.

Garrett Flemming was second in scoring for Hardin County with 13 while Joppa’s Travis Beck also added 13 in the low scoring affair.

In a game marred by turnovers as the two teams – Hardin County (25) and Joppa (29) - combined for 54 miscues, the Cougars did just enough right to earn the win.

Beck gave Joppa a four-point advantage with 4:56 remaining on a nice spin move to the basket for a lay in and a 41-37 lead.

But Hardin County climbed back into contention by dialing long-distance with a pair of 3-pointers by Brandon Flemming and one bomb dropped by Austin German.

Taking advantage of Joppa being in foul trouble while forced to go to a zone defense – HC made the Rangers pay for laying back.

Flemming’s second “trifecta” put Hardin County up 47-43 with 2:30 remaining.

“Those were important shots; German, Brandon Flemming and Holloman all hit big shots for us in the fourth quarter,” added Oxford.

Joppa’s chances were hurt when Wolfe was called for a charge with 2:13 left - a foul sent him to the bench with his fifth personal.

The Rangers’ Dakota Parker – who added five points to the total – cut the Hardin County lead to just two with a score in transition on a pass from Brian Miller.

Trailing 48-47 after a drive in the lane by Andy Lewis found the mark with just under :50 remaining – Joppa missed a pair of free throws and a wide-open look at a 3-pointer that could have won the game.

“We had the ball in the hands of the kids we wanted to shoot the ball at the end but they just hit the rim and bounced out,” said Joppa head coach Don Canada. “If you make it, you win and if you missed, well that’s what happens. We were hoping for the right bounce but we just didn’t get it at the end.”

While Joppa shot the ball better on the night – connecting on 19-of-46 (41 percent) they couldn’t overcome the turnovers and the missed free throws.

Hardin County hit just 16-of-52 overall (31 percent) but made five more free throws than the Rangers.

“We have won one more game than anyone in Hardin County thought we would win and I am prove of these kids,” finalized Coach Oxford.

Joppa (47) – Shelby 0 0 2-2 2, Beck 6 0 1-4 13, Miller 0 1 0-0 3, Lewis 4 0 1-2 9, Parker 2 0 1-4 5, Wolfe 6 0 2-6 14, Harris 0 0 1-2 1, C. Godfrey 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-18, 3FG-1, FT-8-20, PF-24.
Hardin County (48) – D. Davis 7 0 8-12 22, 1 0 0-0 2, German 0 1 0-0 3, Holloman 1 1 3-3 8, G. Flemming 0 0 0-3 0, B. Flemming 4 1 2-3 13, Hayes 0 0 0-0 0, McLannahan 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-13, 3FG-3, FT-13-20, PF-17.
Fouled Out – Wolfe, Harris - Joppa.
Technical Fouls – None.

GALLATIN COUNTY 64, DONGOLA 38
The Hawks improved to 2-0 on the young season and in the tournament with a win over winless Dongola (0-2).

Head coach Robert “Radar” Patton saw three of his Gallatin County kids score double-figures in the win with Jared Hunt and freshman guard Daine Hish both hitting for 12-points while Brody Lowery added 11.

Lowery and Hunt combined for nine first quarter points and senior Andrew Van hit a pair of 3-pointers to give the Hawks a commanding 21-5 first quarter advantage.

Four different players hit 3-point shots in the game for Gallatin County as they finished with six as a team.

Austin Hinkle and Darin Gibson led Dongola with eight points apiece.

The Demons trailed 40-13 at the half and never got into serious contention.

Dongola (38) – Cohin 2 0 1-2 5, Thompson 0 0 1-4 1, Hinkle 3 0 2-2 8, Latham 2 0 2-2 6, Eddleman 2 0 0-0 4, Gibson 4 0 0-1 8, Eads 0 0 0-0 0, Yunker 0 0 0-0 0, Harris 3 0 0-0 6.
2FG-16, 3FG-0, FT-6-11, PF-12.
Gallatin County (64) – Hunt 3 1 3-4 12, Lowery 2 0 7-9 11, Hish 3 2 0-0 12, Jones 3 0 0-0 6, Westbrook 1 0 0-0 2, Drone 2 0 0-3 4, Starto 1 0 0-0 2, Russell 1 1 0-0 5, Van 1 2 0-0 8.
2FG-17, 3FG-6, FT-10-16, PF-16.
Fouled Out – Jones - Gallatin County.
Technical Fouls – None.

CRAB ORCHARD 68, POPE COUNTY 20
The Trojans ran away to an easy victory in the nightcap as everyone who played for Crab Orchard scored points.

Coach Jon Brown’s club improved to 2-0 on the season and in the tourney with 6-foot-5 sophomore Ben Kissing topping the scoring parade with 17-points.

Teammates Lorence Killen tossed in 12-points while Andrew Johnson contributed 10.

Crab Orchard led 44-13 at the break and held Pope County scoreless in the fourth quarter.

Kyle Bernard led the Pirates (1-1) with seven points while freshman Dallas Cockrum came off the bench to add four.

Crab Orchard (68) – Johnson 3 1 1-2 10, Wece 0 1 0-0 3, Kissing 7 0 3-4 17, Killen 2 2 2-2 12, Boester 1 0 0-2 2, Hutson 1 0 0-0 2, McGuire 2 0 0-0 4, A. Emery 2 0 0-0 4, Barwick 0 3 0-0 3, Perry 1 0 2-3 4, Dorries 2 0 1-2 5, C. emery 1 0 0-0 2.
2FG-22, 3FG-5, FT-9-15, PF-15.
Pope County (20) – Bernard 2 0 3-6 7, Dunlap 1 0 0-0 2, Risen 1 0 0-0 2, Butler 1 0 0-0 2, Sandefur 0 0 0-0 0, Cockrum 1 0 2-2 4, Wise 0 0 0-0 0, Thompson 0 1 0-1 3, Kennebrew 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-6, 3FG-1, FT-5-9, PF-12.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.