By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
In the aftermath of Hopkins County's most anticipated high school boys' basketball matchup of the year, neither Hopkins County Central nor Madisonville-North Hopkins celebrated or dwelled on the game's result for too long.
Central (14-5) overcame a seven-game losing streak to North (6-10) with its thrilling 66-62 victory on Tuesday evening and earned a clear right to bask in the accomplishment, but shortly after the game coach Matt Bell said it was already time to move on.
"We'll celebrate until we get on the bus, but then it's time to get ready for Trigg County," Bell said in reference to the Storm's 7:30 p.m. game on Friday.
Maroon senior Jon Hood also downplayed the rematch game set for Jan. 29 and instead focused on ways North must improve in its next two games against Webster County and at Union County.
"We just need to play more physical and rebound better," Hood said. "They had a bunch of garbage, trash baskets at the end, run-out stuff and we just have to eliminate some of those things and we'll look to get them again."
The Storm outrebounded the Maroons 37-26, led by Chuck Jones' 19 boards, 10 of which came on the offensive end.
Jones made short work of North early in the first quarter as he established his 6-foot-9 frame. The senior scored Central's first 10 points of the game en route to a team-high 29.
Central (14-5) overcame a seven-game losing streak to North (6-10) with its thrilling 66-62 victory on Tuesday evening and earned a clear right to bask in the accomplishment, but shortly after the game coach Matt Bell said it was already time to move on.
"We'll celebrate until we get on the bus, but then it's time to get ready for Trigg County," Bell said in reference to the Storm's 7:30 p.m. game on Friday.
Maroon senior Jon Hood also downplayed the rematch game set for Jan. 29 and instead focused on ways North must improve in its next two games against Webster County and at Union County.
"We just need to play more physical and rebound better," Hood said. "They had a bunch of garbage, trash baskets at the end, run-out stuff and we just have to eliminate some of those things and we'll look to get them again."
The Storm outrebounded the Maroons 37-26, led by Chuck Jones' 19 boards, 10 of which came on the offensive end.
Jones made short work of North early in the first quarter as he established his 6-foot-9 frame. The senior scored Central's first 10 points of the game en route to a team-high 29.
North's defense clamped down on Jones in the second and third quarter by limiting him to five points, but Jones found his touch again in the fourth and scored 12 points in the final 7:32.
A Jones stick-back with six minutes remaining in the game put the Storm ahead 12 points, but the Maroons ripped off a 9-0 run to race back into the contest. Two steals by Robert Hatchett and one from Ryan Robinson provided the bulk of the rally.
In addition to the comeback attempt, Central had to work past some foul trouble. Guard Cory Coble, one of the Storm's key ball-handlers and assist men, fouled out with 4:07 left in the game.
Bell said he knew just who the team needed to step up.
"I looked over at Cameron (Tabor) and Josh (Riley) early in the third quarter and I looked them dead in the eye and said, 'We need both of you to win this game,' " he said.
Tabor's only points came with 1:08 to go when he sank a pair of free-throws to put Central ahead 63-60. Riley nailed key 3-pointers throughout the game, but his breakaway layup with less than 15 seconds to play increased the Storm's advantage once again to three points.
Hood brought the ball up the floor for a possible game-tying shot and released the ball from just beyond the 3-point arc, but the attempt missed.
"I was defended pretty well, (but) I had an open look," Hood said. "I just have to hit that. I didn't knock it down. I had some lapses and it really shouldn't have been that close. We had the last shot, and I took it to tie it up. I thought I was pretty open, but it rimmed out. I thought it was going in."
Three and one-half minutes earlier, another Hood 3-pointer went halfway down the net before popping out.
Luckily for Central, those two Hood misses proved the difference in a four-point win.
The Storm's win increased Central's winning streak to seven games and marked the seventh time this season the squad has won by five or fewer points.
"This is just another step forward for us and we have to continue," Bell said about the latest victory. "Our quote for this month and the rest of the season is 'What can we do better today?' to make ourselves better and I thought we did that tonight."
Following the stunning loss, Hood said his team will be more than ready in the rematch at Central.
"We have nine days to prepare for them again and then we have the region," he said. "We haven't lost this game in a long time, home or away. Since I've been here, this is the first time we've lost, so we're going to look to make adjustments."
A Jones stick-back with six minutes remaining in the game put the Storm ahead 12 points, but the Maroons ripped off a 9-0 run to race back into the contest. Two steals by Robert Hatchett and one from Ryan Robinson provided the bulk of the rally.
In addition to the comeback attempt, Central had to work past some foul trouble. Guard Cory Coble, one of the Storm's key ball-handlers and assist men, fouled out with 4:07 left in the game.
Bell said he knew just who the team needed to step up.
"I looked over at Cameron (Tabor) and Josh (Riley) early in the third quarter and I looked them dead in the eye and said, 'We need both of you to win this game,' " he said.
Tabor's only points came with 1:08 to go when he sank a pair of free-throws to put Central ahead 63-60. Riley nailed key 3-pointers throughout the game, but his breakaway layup with less than 15 seconds to play increased the Storm's advantage once again to three points.
Hood brought the ball up the floor for a possible game-tying shot and released the ball from just beyond the 3-point arc, but the attempt missed.
"I was defended pretty well, (but) I had an open look," Hood said. "I just have to hit that. I didn't knock it down. I had some lapses and it really shouldn't have been that close. We had the last shot, and I took it to tie it up. I thought I was pretty open, but it rimmed out. I thought it was going in."
Three and one-half minutes earlier, another Hood 3-pointer went halfway down the net before popping out.
Luckily for Central, those two Hood misses proved the difference in a four-point win.
The Storm's win increased Central's winning streak to seven games and marked the seventh time this season the squad has won by five or fewer points.
"This is just another step forward for us and we have to continue," Bell said about the latest victory. "Our quote for this month and the rest of the season is 'What can we do better today?' to make ourselves better and I thought we did that tonight."
Following the stunning loss, Hood said his team will be more than ready in the rematch at Central.
"We have nine days to prepare for them again and then we have the region," he said. "We haven't lost this game in a long time, home or away. Since I've been here, this is the first time we've lost, so we're going to look to make adjustments."
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