Courtesy of Cherokee County Herald
Hokes Bluff fell to Cherokee County, 58-50, in the championship game of the Class 4A, Area 12 Tournament on Saturday (Feb. 7) in Centre.
The Eagles (21-8) will travel to White Plains on Tuesday in the subregional round.
Early on in the game, however, the Eagles soared out to a 7-0 advantage before Cherokee County began to settle in. The Warriors managed to cut Hokes Bluff’s lead to 12-10 at the end of the first quarter.
The Warriors took their first lead of the game at 15-12 on a bucket and free throw by Nahum Horton with 6:48 remaining until halftime. CCHS never trailed in the game again.
Cherokee County outscored Hokes Bluff 24-10 to take a 34-22 advantage into halftime.
Hokes Bluff coach Jeff Noah said the Eagles’ second-quarter showing was “where we messed up.”
“We turned the ball over and let them shoot layups,” Noah said. “I’ve got to coach them better where we don’t turn the ball over there. Our guys did pretty much what I asked them to do, but give Coach [Neil] Wester and Cherokee County credit. They’re a good team and he does a heck of a job. They play hard and play well together.”
Hokes Bluff battled its way back within four points at 43-39 at the end of the third quarter, but a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by the Warriors’ Justin McKnight extended their lead back out to seven at 46-39.
Kaden Moore paced the Eagles with 19 points. Brack Shields added 14 points and Max Jackson finished with eight.
Coosa Christian lost to Cedar Bluff, 75-39, in the championship game of the Class 1A, Area 13 boys basketball tournament on Saturday at CBHS.
The Conquerors (16-6) visit Skyline on Tuesday in the subregional round.
The Tigers led 20-7 after one quarter, 49-14 at halftime and 60-27 at the end of the third period.
Jace Mills led Coosa Christian with 12 points, while Randy Washington had nine.