02-20-17
BY JACK BULLOCK
ELIZABETHTOWN - For as hot as it was inside of Oxford Gymnasium Monday night in the opening round of the Hardin County 1A Regional, it was equally cold for the Joppa Rangers in the second half of their game against the host Cougars.

Zach Essex witnessed his teams "cool down" which turned out to be a complete "melt down."

The Rangers, after taking a 24-12 halftime lead in near dominant fashion, completely collapsed in the second half as they managed just seven points.

The Cougars got rolling in the same time frame, getting the ball inside to forwards Jamison Hicks and Craig Hutson while also getting three huge 3-point bombs by guard Hunter Cullum as Coach Rodney Lane's club rallied for a dominating 48-31 victory.

Outscoring Joppa 36-7 in the second half, the Cougars improved to 11-16 on the season and head into the semifinals against Cairo on Tuesday night.

“We missed a lot of shots in the first half but we got going in the third quarter. Cullum hitting those back-to-back-to-back 3's helped us in the third quarter,” said Coach Lane. “When they came out to guard him we were able to get the ball inside to Hicks and Hutson. Our defensive intensity was better in the second half, we just couldn't make a bunny in the first half. That was the worst first half we have had.”

The Rangers' campaign ended abruptly at 18-12.

Junior guard Thomas Kendall led Joppa with 12-points while teammate Kaleb Cox added 10-points.

But the true story of the contest turned out to be the inability to capitalize on the chances that the hosts gave the visitors.

Joppa got the the foul line in the opening half often but they missed six free throws, or the game could have ended up a blowout in the other direction.

Nothing went right for the Rangers in the second half.

The club committed 11 of their 16-turnovers and they were just 2-of-20 from the field.

For the game after a fast start, they finished just 9-of-37 (24.3 percent).

They also ended up 12-of-23 from the foul line.The Cougars, after their slow start, got the shots that they wanted and the results that they craved in the second half.

Taking advantage of some early miscues in the third quarter by the Rangers, Hardin County went on a 15-2 surge to take a 27-26 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Cullum, 6-foot-1 junior guard, nailed a long 3-pointer from the right wing to get the run going.

Hicks, who is a 6-foot-5 junior, got going with a drive in the lane for points.

After Cox got a score for Joppa, Hardin County netted the next ten points with Cullum adding two more long range bombs from the left wing behind the arc.

His second and third treys were sandwiched around a pair of free throws from Hutson, a 6-foot-2 senior.

When that third bomb found the twine, Joppa needed a timeout with 1:47 left.

Sophomore Gabe Fowler, a 6-foot guard, closed the third quarter scoring on a drive to the basket which gave the Cougars their first lead of the night at 27-26 sat the end of the third.

The wheels completely fell off of the Joppa wagon in the final eight minutes as they were just 1-of-13 from the floor in the final quarter and committed seven turnovers.

The Cougars pulled away With Hutson and Cullum scoring to give the Cougars a 31-26 lead.

Joppa got a three-point play from Cox to stop the bleeding momentarily.

But that turned out to be a band-aid where a tourniquet was needed.

Hardin County sophomore Jaron Austin got in on a fun with a fast break score and Hicks added two more buckets which put the game on ice.

It was part of a 13-0 run to finish the game and the Joppa season.

After a brutally bad offensive first half, the Cougars awoke from the slumber in the second half to even up the numbers.

Hardin County ended up 16-of-39 from the floor overall but they were 7-of-9 from the field in the final frame, which also included 7-of-11 from the foul line as they diced and sliced the Rangers for the postseason triumph.

“We didn't play well in the second half, and if you only score seven points in a second half you are not going to win many ballgames,” said Coach Essex. “I have coached in both leagues (GEC and SEC) and the GEC is more physical. It is night and day the difference. The second half wasn't fun to watch.”

The Cougars take on top-seed Cairo Wednesday night.

CARRIER MILLS 49, POPE COUNTY 30
The Wildcats led the whole way in winning their semifinal game over the Pirates.
Coach Keil Peebles got 13-points from 6-foot-3 senior Brody Walker and 12 from 6-foot-3 senior Justice Hill.

Pope County closed their season with a loss despite 14-points from 6-foot-6 senior Jake Floyd.

The Wildcats will face Gallatin County on Wednesday night in the second semifinal game.