Hawks finish second in state

Coach Sylvester Kilgore took a look at the stat sheet and said, “The numbers tell the tale.”

His Holly Springs Hawks could never get on track in the Class 3A state championship game Saturday at Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson and lost 48-42 to St. Andrew’s.

Kilgore then circled a few of the stats. Dandy Dozen guard DaQuan Smith, who averages 27 points per game, was held to one field goal by the Saints’ “consistent defensive design,” he said. The Hawks were nine of 16 (56 percent) from the free-throw line, and they were outrebounded 45-32.

“Missed free throws, untimely turnovers, defensive miscues, along with a lack of offensive execution, were hard to overcome,” Kilgore said.

“All credit to St. Andrew’s for taking advantage of our mistakes and poor decisions we made at times, including myself. I told my team, any single-digit loss, I will take the blame, and I do. I should have done a better job for them.”

He said the Saints were particularly “locked in” defensively on Smith.

“They kept a body and eyes on him all game,” Kilgore said.

Daveon Miller scored the first 10 points of the game for the Hawks. His jumper from the side cut the deficit to 12-10 with 6:29 to go in the second quarter.

Holly High stayed within two, thanks to Anthony Johnson’s bucket on the break with 1:16 to go in the first half. It was 17-15 at intermission.

Smith had just one point after 16 minutes of play, while St. Andrew’s Dandy Dozen player, 6’6” Garrison Wade, had only two.

The Hawks tied the game twice in the third before Cornelius Bridgeforth converted a three-point play to put them up 25-24 with 2:33 to go in the period.

Later in the third, Smith banked in a short shot and Cori Bell drove to the hoop for two. Holly High was up 29-26 after three quarters.

Wade had a strong second half for the Saints. He scored eight straight points in the fourth to put St. Andrew’s on top 34-29 with 5:30 remaining.

Two minutes later Johnson scored and Holly High was back on top, 38-37.

But that was the Hawks’ last lead.

Fletcher Clark hit a big three for the Saints, and then Rashad Bolden nailed some clutch free throws as they went on to win by six. Bolden was 12 of 14 from the charity stripe in the game.

“Free throws played a huge part – for both teams,” Kilgore said. “They won the game for them.

“Each possession was valuable, and we made a few bad decisions and the other team went down and scored. That’s what good teams do.”

For Holly High, Miller had 14 points and six rebounds. Bell finished with nine points.

Wade’s 19 points and 19 rebounds led the Saints. Bolden had 15 points and eight rebounds.

“Our goal, of course, was to win the gold ball,” Kilgore said. “But we had 23 wins (23-10) against a tough schedule and that makes six 20-win seasons in a row. It’s a testament to our young people for taking on all comers.”

It was Holly High’s fourth straight trip to Jackson and the school’s first trip to the title game since 2006. The Hawks won back-to-back state championships in 2004 and 2005.

“As we move forward to next season, I would like to thank the legions of supporters from near and far,” Kilgore said. “Hawk nation, you are the best.”

Hawks-Ruleville

Holly High rallied for a 48-45 win over Ruleville Central in the state semi-finals on Wednesday afternoon of last week in Jackson.

The Hawks were down 12 in the second quarter and 10 (33-23) in the third.

Smith drilled back-to-back threes and Bell added a three to end the third period. The deficit was cut to 42-40.

Early in the fourth, Smith struck again from long range and Holly High went up 43-42.

The Hawks hung on in the closing minutes. Smith nailed two free throws with six seconds left to seal the victory and set off a celebration.

Smith finished with 21 points, and he also pulled down seven rebounds and had four steals. Rahmon Rutherford scored nine.