01/06/2024
BY JACK BULLOCK
METROPOLIS - Back on December 26th in the first round of the Eldorado Holiday Tournament Hardin County hung right with Massac County, trailing the Patriots by just two-points in the fourth quarter before losing 50-40.

Heading into a rematch between the two teams on Saturday at Massac, Patriots' head coach Joe Hosman was rightfully concerned with the Cougars.

Hardin County even jumped out to a brief 8-4 advantage in the early part of the first quarter.

Whatever anxiety Coach Hosman had before the game didn't last long once his club got going.

Massac County closed the opening quarter with 14-0 run and never looked back as they defeated the Cougars, 75-45, in a non-conference win at home.

With the victory Coach Hosman reached another milestone in his long career as he passed head coach Steve Kimbro of Nokomis for fourth place on the all-time IHSA list of coaching victories.

Win number 839 came about mainly because of his teams' ability to force turnovers.

The Patriots' full-court press was too much for Hardin County as they forced the Cougars into 18-turnovers, 11 in the first two quarters, as Massac County turned that four-point early deficit into a 42-22 halftime lead.

Scoring a game-high 20-points was Patriot senior guard Will Harmon.

Also inking the book was junior guard Kris Garnett with 17-points to go with seven rebounds.

Senior point guard Isaac Hosman added 16-points and dished out a team-best seven assists while Massac received 13-points and seven rebounds from 6-4 senior Hunter Box

Another key stat was that the Patriots took care of the basketball, committing zero turnovers through the first three quarters of play.

Reserves in mop up duty late in the contest committed the team's two miscues.

Rebounding was also a key, with Coach Hosman's club winning that battle 30-25, including nine offensive rebounds.

“I was really concerned about Hardin County but the kids come out and played really well,” said Coach Hosman. “After the first few minutes we got locked in. We shot the ball really well. It was a good win for us.

For Coach Rodney Lane, his Cougars took on another 2A team in what has been a tough schedule of contests so far for his squad.

Senior Morgan Fricker led the way for the Cougars with 18-points while sophomore Brandon Dutton tossed in 15.

Those two were the only double-digit scorers for the now 6-8 Cougars who are 5-2 against 1A teams and 1-6 against large schools.

Hardin County took the lead on a pair of 3-pointers, one each from Dutton and sophomore Landon Fricker along with a drive in the lane for a score by Morgan Fricker.

Massac then took over.

Scores by Harmon and Garnett and a 3-pointer from Hosman from the top of the arc got the Patriots offense rolling.

Garnett fed Harmon on a fast break score and junior Jack Turner nailed a 3-point shot as the Patriots led at the end of the first quarter 20-12.

(CONTINUED)
Two Morgan Fricker baskets in the early going of the second quarter got the Cougars to within six points but that was the end of the game's drama.

Another scoring run fueled by the defense turned a 22-16 game into a 36-18 spread.

Garnett scored twice on fast break baskets and Harmon nailed his first of four 3-pointers.

Those two each added baskets in the final minute and the Patriots tossed in 5-of-6 free throws for a 20-point lead at the half.

Massac coaxed seven turnovers from the Cougars and held them to a 5-of-17 shooting outcome in the second quarter.

Morgan Fricker scored eight of his team's 10 second quarter points.

Dutton scored eight of his points in the third quarter, including consecutive 3-pointers.

Hosman and Harmon closed the book on the third with 3-pointer of their own as Massac led 62-39.

A 9-2 run by the Pats started the mercy rule with it 71-41.

Harmon hit his fourth 3-pointer and back-to-back scores in transition started the continuous clock.

Massac finished up 29-of-61 from the floor (47.5 percent) and 8-of-19 from the 3-point line while holding the Cougars to just 18-of-47 (38.2 percent), 6-of-20 from long range.

The Patriots next play January 12 at home against Gallatin County before hosting the 40th Metropolis “Superman Classic” January 20-25.

Hardin County, sitting at 4-0 in the Greater Egyptian, play their next four games on the road before the GEC Tournament.

Their game at Pope County on Friday is an important GEC game.

Coach Hosman put the wins and his career at Massac County in perspective.

“I tell everybody I've been blessed to be able to coach the way I want to. I've had good kids and great help with the people that have helped me over the years and now I'm getting old,” said Coach Hosman, who is in his 38th year on the bench at Massac County. “I've been blessed to have been able to coach at the same spot for so many years and it has been enjoyable. I love the game of basketball and it has given me a lot in my life.”

Hardin County (45) - Bebout 2 0 0-0 4, M. Fricker 7 1 1-2 18, Austin 0 0 0-0 0, C. Fricker 1 2 0-0 8, Dutton 2 3 2-2 15, Mitchell 0 0 0-0 0, Massie 0 0 0-0 0, Banks 0 0 0-0 0, Winters 0 0 0-0 0. 2FG-12, 3FG-6, FT-3-6 , PF-7.
Massac County (75) - Garnett 8 0 1-2 17, W. Harmon 4 4 0-0 20, Box 3 1 4-4 13, Hosman 4 2 2-2 16, Turner 1 1 2-2 7, J. Harmon 0 0 0-0 0, Fisher 0 0 0-0 0, Eskridge 1 0 0-0 2, Goines 0 0 0-0 0, Russell 0 0 0-0 0, Brown 0 0 0-0 0. 2FG-21, 3FG-8, FT-9-10, PF-6.
Fouled Out – None
Technical Fouls – None