Game Report on Ragsdale-Hoke County Boys Basketball with Round One too tough on the Tigers

Hoke County 78, Ragsdale 53

Team	           1	   2	   3	   4	Total
Ragsdale	   5	  14	   22	  12	  53
Hoke County	  19	  12	   20	  27	  78

Raeford, NC – –

The Ragsdale Tigers took a three hour bus ride today to play the eastern-most team in the 4A West bracket, the Bucks of Hoke County High School. Hoke County comes into tonight off a SEC 4A regular season co-championship and a heartbreaking loss in the conference tournament finals. The gym at Hoke County was loud, hot and hostile for tonight’s opening round state playoff game.

In tonight’s game, the Bucks would feed off the frenzy of the atmosphere and take the lead right off the jump thanks to several points in the paint and by dominating the offensive glass in the early going. The full court swarming defensive pressure forced numerous Tigers turnovers which led to easy baskets for the Bucks, which led 19-5 after the first quarter.

Ragsdale would settle down in the second quarter and begin to assert itself on both ends. The Tigers were able to claw back into the game, trailing 31-19 at the half.

Coming out of the halftime break, Hoke County started fast yet again, with three consecutive easy baskets forcing a quick Ragsdale timeout. The Tigers would come storming back yet again, cutting the deficit to as close as six points. The home-standing Bucks would still take a ten point lead into the final quarter.

In the final period, Ragsdale could not get anything to drop. Once again, turnovers and missed offensive opportunities would plague the Tigers and their ability to finish any sort of comeback tonight. The rout was on in the latter minutes of the game, as Hoke County would win by the final score of 78-53

Ragsdale was led by Greyson Collins (12 points, 7 rebounds), Kyle Watkins (11 points, 4 rebounds) and Nick Coleman (11 points, 5 rebounds). Silas Love led the Bucks with a game high 24 points on the evening.

Ragsdale ends their season at 13 – 13 overall. Hoke County improves to 19 – 7 overall and advances to the 2nd round of the playoffs on Thursday night.

Hoke County (19 – 7):
Silas Love – 24
D’Coda Cummings – 14
Daishawn George – 11
Andre Pegues – 8
Wesley Baldwin – 7
Rovel Ray – 5
Darius Capers – 2
Devin Norwood – 2
Micha Whitehirst – 2
Cameron Lide – 2
JJ Ray – 1

Ragsdale (13 – 13):
Greyson Collins – 12 points, 7 rebounds
Kyle Watkins – 11 points, 4 rebounds
Nick Coleman – 11 points, 5 rebounds
Brian Free – 5
Shakeel Moore – 5
Elijah Joyner – 4
Jarious Drayton – 3
Mason Clement – 1
Coke Watkins – 1

Courtesy of Brandon Mullis with Ragsdale Basketball