consecutive season, as they defeated Cyril 61-51 in the area championship game at Cache.
Hydro-Eakly are the defending Class A boys basketball state champions and have won their area the past two seasons.
“It is an honor to get into the state tournament,” coach Rick Gore said. “Only eight teams in each class can make the state tournament. It does not matter if you are ranked No. 1, No. 10 or No. 20 in the state. If you get into the state tournament, you did something right and are a good team. It is not an easy thing to do, much less getting there three seasons in a row. Being the top seed all season long has not been fun either. However, we are in and are going to go play and we will see what happens.”
Hydro-Eakly hit some shots, but they trailed 16-13 at the end of the first quarter. Hydro-Eakly outscored Cyril 7-0 to open the second quarter with plays like Kolsen Tharp scoring a wide open 3-pointer. Tharp also hustled on defense when he chased a defender down and stole the ball back. Paxton Price hit a buzzer beater 3-point shot to close the first half, making the score 35-24 at halftime. Carson Propps scored 13 points and Nolan Gore scored 12 points in the first half.
“We had Kolsen guard their best player and Kolsen hustled all night,” Gore said. “It was a handful and a challenge for him. He accepted the challenge. The guy loves to talk trash and we told Kolsen not to react and just guard him. He did this and it worked. Kolsen not responding frustrated him.”
Hydro-Eakly made great plays in the third quarter, but Cyril would not go away and Hydro-Eakly was ahead 44-35 going into the fourth quarter. Cyril outscored Hydro-Eakly 6-1 to open the fourth quarter, before Nolan Gore hit two 3-pointers, making the score 51-43 with 4:43 left in the game.
“Nolan stepped up and played very well,” Gore said. “Those buckets were huge for us. Everyone played well. Kolsen Tharp played his best defensive game of the season. He guarded very well and shut down one of their best scorers.”
Kolsen Tharp scored a big layup and Hydro-Eakly continued to get stops. They were ahead 55-46 with two minutes left to play. Cyril began to foul with 1:16 left in the game and Hydro-Eakly was able to close the game out, by getting rebounds and making their free throws at the end of the game.
Hydro-Eakly won the game 61-51. Nolan Gore scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, scoring the two 3-pointers he made to give Hydro-Eakly a boost they needed and he went 4-4 from the free throw line.
“Cyril was a good team and I am happy we jumped on them early,” Gore said. “They played a zone defense on us and it threw us off. They tried to take the ball out of Nolan’s hand. This in turn allowed us to set Carson up at the high post and he did his thing.”
Nolan Gore scored 23 points, Propps scored 20 points and Price scored 10 points. Propps and Gore were both perfect from the free throw line. Hydro-Eakly improves to 24-3 and will play in the state tournament this week, with their first game being Thursday. The bracket will be released Wednesday.
“We plan to rest and get healthy before Thursday,” Gore said. “I am happy we do not have to come back and play another game in area consolation. We will get a scouting report of whoever we play and we will play the game and have fun. I am so proud of the guys’ effort and getting the win tonight. We are going just to play our game. If we rebound well and make free throws, we will give ourselves a chance to win. Every team is nearly equal at the state tournament, so if we give them one shot and get the rebound, it gives us the best chance to win. Also, when I won state championships at Calumet, there always was a player who stepped up off the bench and we are hoping this happens too. Kade Kimble did this last season when he hit those 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.”
Gore knows what it takes to win back-to-back state championships, as he has done this at Calumet and he said it is tough being the top team all season long.
“Being hunted down by every team in Class A is terrible,” Gore said. “When I was at Calumet in the 2003-04 season, we were the topranked team. We got everyone’s best game similar to this year. At the end of the year, we want to be No. 1 and state champions, but in the season, everyone gives us their best shot. It has been long and stressful, but I am so happy with how our guys responded and have played.”