VICI — Hydro-Eakly basketball defeated Vici 82-65 Tuesday night to wrap up its regular season.
“We won this game by playing hard and tough all game,” coach Rick Gore said. “Vici is a very physical team and they play hard as well. They do a great job year in and year out playing basketball. We had a slow start on defense again, but picked it up in the second half and finished well.” Hydro-Eakly had a very quick start on offense, scoring 12 points in the first two minutes of play. However, Vici got hot from 3-point range to keep the game within one possession two minutes later. The game was tied, 16-16, with 1:35 left but Carson Propps had two blocks in a row. Vici had a onepoint advantage as they were ahead 20-19 going into the second quarter.
“We did not play good in the first quarter on defense,” coach Gore said. “It is going to get us beat one of these times. We have to figure out how to start games better.”
Hydro-Eakly opened the second quarter outscoring Vici 6-1. Vici hit a 3-point shot and Hydro-Eakly answered. The Bobcats were in front 34-31 at halftime. Kolsen Tharp scored 10 points in the first half for Hydro-Eakly.
Carter Tharp hit a 3-point shot a minute and a half into the third quarter, making the score 43-35. The Bobcats had all the momentum on their side, as they kept building their lead, thanks to Paxton Price. Price scored the final eight points in the third quarter, giving Hydro-Eakly a 61-45 advantage going into the fourth quarter. Price scored 14 points total in the third quarter.
Vici cut into the lead in the fourth quarter and trailed by 11 with three minutes left in the game. However, Hydro-Eakly outscored Vici 11-5 to finish the game, including made free throws and Nolan Gore finding Price open for a shot under the basket. Hydro-Eakly won the game 82-65.
Hydro-Eakly was 28-34 from the free throw line for the game.
Coach Gore said when some of the starters got into foul trouble, he needed guys on the bench to step up, which they did. Carter Tharp scored seven points off the bench.
“We do a very good job of taking care of the basketball at the end of games,” Gore said. “We stepped up, made free throws, got the ball to our best players and just did a great job scoring down the stretch. I also want to give credit to how Carter, Trenton Coe and Ryder Klaassen all gave me good minutes off the bench. This was awesome and I am so proud of the way they played when their name was called.”
Nolan Gore scored 27 points, Price scored 21 points, Propps scored 11 points and Kolsen Tharp scored 10 points. Hydro-Eakly finishes the regular season with a record of 20-3.
“I am thrilled with how the regular season went,” Gore said. “Two of our three losses were in the Tournament of Champions. We are hoping our great finish in the regular season will transfer into the playoffs, beginning Saturday.”
Hydro-Eakly will play in the District Tournament championship game, 8 p.m. today against the winner of Union City or Fletcher at Hydro-Eakly. Union City and Fletcher played Friday night at Hydro-Eakly.
“We are focusing on districts first,” Gore said. “We cannot worry about winning a gold ball right at this moment. There are some really good teams in Class A and we will have a tough draw in Districts Saturday. We have to play much better on define and lock teams down better than we have been lately.