The Hobbton Wildcats took out the varsity Raiders Friday night in both teams’ final game of the season. Hobbton’s Senior Night was a good one for the squads. The boys won the nightcap 63-46. Hobbton’s girls got their game 58-51.
In the girls’ game, Midway led most of the way. They were up 18-15 after one quarter and had a 31-30 lead at the half. Midway outscored the Wildcats 10-5 in the third quarter to take a 41-35 lead into the final frame.
With about five minutes left, down by 7, Sasha Martin hit two 3-pointers back to back to cut the Raider lead to 1 at 43-42. About two minutes later, Casey Hobbs hit a field goal from the paint to put the Wildcats up 43-42. With two minutes left, the score was knotted at 48. Martin and Taylor Bowden hit clutch free throws along with a couple of key field goals to hold on for the win.
Wildcat coach Alphonso Hooper said, “Wow, what a ballgame. What a rivalry with Midway! I told our girls yesterday and before the game that Midway would come in fired up and ready to play. It went back and forth in the first half. We have been playing a box-and-one and a triangle and two and I told the girls to be patient and we would start clicking. Sasha Martin’s shots wouldn’t fall early in the game and I told her to just stay with it.
“Michaela Wilson kept us in the ballgame the first half. We really couldn’t stop Amber Poole early in the game but once she fouled out, I told the girls it was time to turn the pressure up. We were down by 7 or 8 and the same thing at Midway. My hat’s off the girls for pull through. It was senior night but it was also a big conference game and we needed to win. In the fourth quarter, we got it going. Martin hit some shots. Once we got into the 1 and 1, I told the girls to be patient. If you get fouled, go to the line and make the shots.
“My four seniors — Taylor Bowden, Casey Hobbs, Sasha Martin and Michaela Wilson — fought back hard. This is eight times in a row we have beaten Midway, but each time it gets a little harder. This puts us at 13-10 for the season. Last year we were 10-13.”
For the Wildcats, Martin had 24 points. Wilson had 17 points and 5 rebounds. Taylor Bowden had 7 points and 6 steals. Casey Hobbs had 6 blocked shots and 12 rebounds. Lexus Rogers had 8 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Midway’s Amber Poole led their effort with 15 points. Kaitlyn Jackson and Hannah Hubbard had 9 each.
In the nightcap, Midway jumped out to a 20-11 lead after one quarter of play. In the second quarter, the Wildcats outscored Midway 18-5 to take a 29-25 lead into the break. During the third quarter the Wildcats kept adding to their margin, leading 44-33 after three. During the final period, Hobbton began hitting shots regularly and at one point had a 20-point lead. The final was 63-46, Hobbton.
Midway coach Leonard Henry said, “Hobbton played well and we struggled a bit. We are going to go back to the drawing board and get ready for the tournament.”
“The whole second half of the season I think we have played about as well as we could play. Other than Wallace the other night, the two games we have lost were by 2 points. I have to give a lot of credit to the defense. The eight seniors really worked and do a great job for us. Hopefully we can keep playing now. This did get us in the play-offs and that is what you play for,” said Hobbton coach Jeff Byrd.
“I have to give the team a lot of credit. They could have laid down the first half of the season. We have won 4 of the last 6 — 5 of the last 7, we have a little momentum going into the tournament.”
Rashad Davis led the scoring effort for the Wildcats with 15 points. Jonathan Faison added 14 while Arell Owens chipped in 10.
For Midway, Andre Sankey had 11. Jordan Killett and Heath Smith had 8 each and Tyler Pope had 5.
Hobbton’s boys play Tuesday night at 6 pm at Wallace-Rose Hill in the first round of the tournament. Hobbton’s girls will play at Lakewood at 6 pm in the first round.
Midway’s JV boys beat the Wildcats 81-42.
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