The Sudan Hornets’ varsity basketball team dropped a tough contest to the Hale Center Owls on Tuesday night, 68-47, in Sudan. With the loss, the Hornets fall to 1-9 in district play on the season.
Ryan Huddleston opened the scoring for Sudan with a three from the right elbow, but Trey Coleman answered with a floater in the lane to get the Owls on the board, still trailing the Hornets, 3-2, with 5:44 to play in the opening quarter. Sal Juarez drove the lane for a lay-up, but Coleman answered with a layup on the left side and Aidan Baldridge kept it going with a three from the right elbow to give the Owls their first lead of the game, 7-5.
Caleb Groetken was fouled on an attempt by Jessie Castillo earning a trip to the line. He made oneof- two shots at the line to trim the lead to one point, but Javan Rumbaugh picked up a steal and got it ahead to Lionel Martinez on the fast-break for a lay-up to extend the Hale Center lead to, 9-6. Tony Vargas answered with a three from the right elbow to tie the game, 9- 9, but Brennyn Burtnett dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Martinez to close out the first quarter with Hale Center in front, 11-9.
Burtnett dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Coleman to open the second frame and Martinez followed it up with a drive and dump to Burtnett for a lay-up to extend their lead to, 15-9, with 6:45 remaining in the first half. Sudan took a time out and out of the break, Baldridge drained a three from the left wing to extend the Owl’s lead to, 18-9. Juarez answered with a floater from the right side, but on the other end, Burtnett was fouled on an attempt by Marcello King, earning a trip to the line. He sank one-of-two shots at the line, pushing their lead to, 19-11.
Huddleston drained a deep three from the right elbow, as Sudan took a time out with 4:22 to play in the half. Out of the break, Burtnett dropped in a put-back off of his own miss, but on the other end, Juarez was fouled on the floor by Rumbaugh, earning a one-in-one opportunity at the line. Juarez sank both free throws to trim the lead to, 21-16, and on their next possession, Groetken was fouled on the floor by Giobanny Alvidrez; he made one-of-two shots at the line to make the score, 17-21, with 2:15 to play in the half.
Both teams would net seven points to close out the first half with Hale Center in front, 28-24, going into the locker room at halftime.
Groetken was fouled on an attempt by Burtnett to open the second half; he converted one shot from the free-throw line, and Hale Center answered on the other end, as Coleman dropped in a lay-up, drawing an and- one foul on Huddleston. He missed the free throw, leaving the score, 30-25, with 6:16 to play in the third quarter.
Rumbaugh was fouled on a putback attempt by Huddleston, who picked up his fourth foul of the game. Rumbaugh sank both shots at the line to make the score, 3225, as Sudan took a time out with 5:59 to play in the third. Out of the break, Groetken drained a three from the right elbow, but Rumbaugh answered with a three form the left elbow for Hale Center, pushing their lead to, 35-28. With 4:39 to play in the quarter, Slade Nickels was fouled on an attempt by Burtnett and made oneof- two shots at the line making the score, 37-29.
Juarez was fouled on an attempt by Castillo with 4:13 to play in the third; he made one-of-two shots at the line, trimming the lead to 3730. Coleman answered with a layup on the other end, drawing an and-one foul on Groetken. He converted the free throw to push the Owl’s lead back to double-digits, 40-30, as Hale Center took a time out with just under four minutes to play in the third.
Out of the break, Martinez was fouled on the floor by Nickels and made both shots on the one-inone opportunity, but Juarez answered with a three from the top of the key, and Nickels followed it up with a put-back to cut the lead to, 42-35, with 2:32 remaining in the quarter. Hale Center would close out the third quarter on a, 92, scoring run to take a, 51-37, lead into the final quarter of play.
King dropped in a put-back, drawing an and- one foul on Castillo, who picked up his fourth foul of the game. He missed the free throw leaving the score, 5139. Coleman scored five consecutive points for the Owls, as Sudan called a time out with 6:20 to play, trailing Hale Center, 56-39. Out of the break, Groetken dropped in a put-back off of his own miss, but Coleman answered on the other end with a spin to the basket for a lay-up, stretching the lead to, 5841.
Vargas knocked down a three from the right elbow off of an assist from Derek Rosa, but on the other end, Martinez was fouled on an attempt by Rosa and sank both free throws to make the score, 6044, with 4:30 left to play in the game. Hale Center went on an, 80, scoring run, before Groetken dropped in a put-back off of his own miss to trim the lead to, 6846. With under a minute to play, King split a pair of free throws, as Sudan fell to the Owls, 68-47.
The Hornets were led in scoring by Groetken, who netted 13 points and Juarez, who finished with 12 points. Huddleston chipped in eight points, while Vargas added six points, and Rosa contributed four points.
King added three points and Nickels finished with one points in the contest.
The Hornets hosted Smyer on Friday as district play continues. Results were not available at press time. They will continue district play on Tuesday with a road game against New Deal.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:45 p.m.