By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent
Hokes Bluff boys basketball head coach Greg Watkins knew that Munford was a good outside shooting team.
His Eagles discovered as much last Friday (Feb. 15) in a 48-46 loss in the Class 4A subregionals.
Munford made 4-of-6 3-point attempts in the first quarter to take a 17-8 lead. The Lions’ ability to step into the passing lanes seemed to bother the host Eagles ability to score.
Hokes Bluff (20-10) made the necessary adjustments in the second quarter, and behind the scoring of junior center Isaac Haas’ 10 points, the Eagles managed to draw within 26-24 at halftime.
The game was tied several times in the third period before Hokes Bluff took a 35-31 lead with 2:35 to go in the quarter.
Munford responded with a 6-0 run to take a 37-35 lead heading into the final stanza. Hokes Bluff managed to cut the Lion lead to a single point with 3:34 remaining on a free throw by Matthew Watkins, but the hosts could get no closer.
Despite being double and triple-teamed every time he touched the ball, Isaac Haas scored a game-high 20 points, including eight in the fourth quarter. He also had nine blocked shots.
Tanner Shields added nine points for the Eagles.
Munford (13-15) was led by Jaylin Mitchell with 16 points, while Quan Richardson added 11.
Watkins was proud of the effort by his team and the fact that it was the first boys sub-regional game Hokes Bluff had hosted in school history.
“We came up two points short of getting to JSU, but the back-to-back 20 wins are special,” he said.