Junior high Hawks take championship


Thursday, March 24, 2011
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Junior high Hawks take championship

Courtesy photo

Coach Green and the Hawks show off their first-place trophy from the conference tournament.

The Holly Springs Junior High basketball team, under the leadership of coach James “Doc” Green, recently claimed the North Mississippi Junior High Athletic Conference championship.

The Hawks defeated H.W. Byers junior high 37-25 in the first round.

This win allowed HSJH to advance to the tournament finals held on Thursday, Feb. 18, in Ashland. The Hawks faced the host junior high Blue Devils.

The showdown began with Holly Springs controlling the tip. The game was so intense and tense that neither team could score until after two and a half minutes into the first quarter.

After that both teams went back and forth leading in points.

Then with four minutes left, point guard D’Andre Finley drove to the basket and took a hard foul with his head hitting the floor. The game was delayed for approximately 30 minutes until medical assistance could arrive. Finley was taken to the hospital with minor injuries to his neck (he is doing fine).

The game resumed, but the Hawks continued to be plagued with mishaps. The starting center fouled out, but Travon Jeffries stepped up and played hard until the finish.

With two minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Hawks’ top forward and top scorer Carlos Pool fouled out. With three top players out of the game and two minutes remaining, Coach Green called for a timeout to set the stage of the final minutes.

With all of the starting players out except Kyland Freeman, Coach Green used these words - stay focused, keep your head in the game, be determined, play hard, concentrate and “you will win.”

With that said, Kyland Freeman, starting guard, Kevis Reaves, back-up guard, Darius Vaughn and Danny Crum, back-up forwards, and Travon Jeffries, back-up center, returned to the court rejuvenated, revived and ready for action.

With the words of their coach resounding in their heads the game continued. First off, guards Kyland Freeman and Keivus Reaves made back-to-back steals, while other team members did their parts, turning the score around in the Hawks favor, 45-41.

With 16 seconds left the Blue Devils tried a three-pointer but failed to connect. Freeman was fouled as he came down with the rebound. With only 10 seconds left, he went to the free-throw line and connected on both tries, putting the Hawks up 47-41 and securing the conference crown.

The Holly Springs Intermediate pee wee Hawks, who lost in the first round of the conference tournament, ended their season with a 13-1 record.

The players would like to extend special thanks to the parents, students, teachers, staff, and administrators for their support and encouragement.

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