01/25/2022
BY JACK BULLOCK
HARRISBURG - A hot streak in the third quarter by Norris City-Omaha-Enfield and an overall mistake fill/poor shooting performance by Gallatin County proved to be the difference in the Fighting Cardinals 54-37 semifinal victory over the Hawks Tuesday night in the 74th annual Greater Egyptian Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

Coach Jordan Johnson's team hit its first four shots in the third quarter, breaking open a close game in the process as his club moved into the championship semifinals of the tournament.

Connecting on 6-of-9 shots in the frame, NCOE turned a two-point halftime lead into a 10-point spread heading into the fourth.

Coinciding with the Cardinals' offensive success was Gallatin County committing seven of its 18-turnovers in the same stretch.

Head coach Craig Utterback's Hawks played well in the first half to take an early second quarter lead and were right with the higher-seeded Cards when things went South in the second half.

The Fighting Cardinals, who are looking for their third consecutive GEC Tournament championship, were led by a trio of players who notched double-digits in scoring.

Six-three junior Joel Hortin topped the charts with 14-points, with 10 of his points coming in the first half.

Coach Johnson got 13-points each from 5-10 junior guard Cord Tucker and 6-1 junior Preston Long.

Senior guard Aryon Jolley added six-points to the win along with four-points each from senior Cole Roberson and senior Will Thompson.

Long, one of the catalysts for the Cardinals, made things happen for Coach Johnson's squad on Tuesday night.

“I thought defensively we took them out of their rhythm and offensively we started making the right plays,” said Coach Johnson. “We like the 'drive and kick' offense. We like the 'inside-out' game instead of just running up and down the floor and throwing it in. Preston (Long) is difficult to keep out of the lane. They (Gallatin) did a good job on him for a little bit but eventually he is going to get in there and make the right plays.”

NCOE improved to 11-8 for the season and will now face Galatia in the Friday night semifinals.

The Bearcats upset the two-seed Crab Orchard in the Tuesday night final game.

Gallatin County saw its won-loss mark slip to 3-14 overall as they will now face Crab Orchard in the consolation semifinals on Thursday night.

The Hawks were just 1-of-16 from the 3-point line and just 17-of-49 overall in the loss.

Two Gallatin County players hit double-figures in scoring.

Senior Jeremy Brugger notched 11-points for the Hawks while sophomore Dylan Rushing netted 10.

Two other players added six-points; 6-5 sophomore Noah Richardson and 6-0 senior Jaxon Knott.

Senior Tate Duvall added four-points to round out the scoring for Gallatin County.

NCOE, behind a 3-pointer from Tucker to open the scoring jumped out to an early seven-point advantage.

Hortin scored twice inside and Thompson added points in the paint.

A nice assist from Long to Thompson made it 9-2 Cardinals with 4:04 left in the first.

Gallatin County rallied at the end of the first quarter and carried the run into the second.

Added up, it was a 14-2 scoring blitz.

Richardson scored twice inside for Gallatin County while Duvall and Rushing added points.

The Rushing score on a fast break off of an NCOE turnover made it 11-10 Cardinals as the first quarter came to an end.

The short break between periods didn't slow down Coach Utterback's squad.

Richardson opened up the scoring in the second quarter with more inside success, twice getting shots to fall.

A fast break lay in by Knott pushed the Hawks to a 16-11 lead and forced an NCOE timeout at the 6:20 mark.

After a couple of scores by the Cardinals (Jolley and Hortin) Gallatin County took it's biggest lead.

Buckets by Knott, Rushing and Duvall in succession gave the Hawks a 22-15 lead.

In the almost eight-minute stretch of playing time, Gallatin County outscored the Cardinals' 20-6.

A couple of things happened near the end of the second quarter that helped shift the momentum.

When Duvall finished the run with a steal and fast break, the senior guard was whistled for a technical foul, unsportsmanlike in nature, for taunting.

NCOE's Long nailed down both foul shots and the Cardinals got the ball back.

A few moments later Richardson, after making a steal and heading on a fast break hurt his ankle and turned the ball back over to NCOE.

As the play continued (as it should have by rule) the Cardinals got a score from Hortin in the lane to close the Gallatin County lead to 22-19.

These two key plays helped NCOE get going.

The Cardinals took the lead at the half and then control in the third quarter.

Hortin added another basket and Long converted a three-point play on a fast break with :02.0 left.

His made free throw gave NCOE a 24-22 lead at the break and closed the 9-0 run.

The Fighting Cardinals added six more points in the third quarter on consecutive 3-point bombs from the left side of the court by Tucker (corner) and Long (wing).

The Long shot was very long, from close to NBA 3-point line range.

When it found the mark, Gallatin County was now down 30-22.

Although Brugger countered for the Hawks, NCOE got another trey from Tucker and another score in transition after a Gallatin turnover.

Roberson converted the fast break lay in which forced another Gallatin County timeout with 4:22 left at 35-25 Cards.

Scores by Rushing and Brugger were matched by buckets from Jolley and Tucker as Norris City-Omaha-Enfield led 39-29 heading to the final quarter.

Two quick buckets (Rushing and Brugger) to open the fourth quarter got the Hawks as close as they would get the remainder of the contest at 39-33.

Five consecutive points from basket by Tucker, a free throw by Long and Roberson score on an assist from Jolley pushed the lead back out to double-digits.

Needing to cut into their deficit, the Hawks started fouling down 46-33.

This strategy didn't workout for Gallatin.

The Cardinals advanced into the semifinals by making 7-of-9 from the line in the last 2:41.

Needing shots to fall, the Hawks ended up just 4-of-17 in the final quarter.

NCOE finished 19-of-44 from the field overall, just 4-of-16 from the arc.

However this was good enough on this night as their defense stepped up to keep the Hawks at bey.

Gallatin County held a slight 28-24 rebounding edge but the Cardinals took better care of the ball as the 'coughed up' just nine-turnovers.

NCOE will face Galatia on Friday night in the championship semifinals, a team they conquered 64-47 back on December 14th on the road.

The Hawks will face Crab Orchard in the consolation semifinals on Thursday night.

Gallatin County lost to the Trojans 57-43 on the road December 7th.

“We like playing down here (SIC) and last year we had to host at our own schools because of Covid19 but it's a nice atmosphere and we get to play on a college floor which is special for these guys,” said Coach Johnson. “Having all of the fans from the other schools in here cheering and watching the games. Friday and Saturday night will be special again.”

Gallatin County (37) – Fromm 0 0 0-0 0, Duvall 2 0 0-0 4, Knott 3 0 0-0 6, Jackson 0 0 0-0 0, Richardson 3 0 0-0 4, Sandifer 0 0 0-0 0, Rushing 4 0 2-4 10, Brugger 4 1 0-1 11, Henson 0 0 0-0 0. 2FG-16, 3FG-1, FT-3-5, PF-16.
Norris City-Omaha-Enfield (54) – Roberson 2 0 0-0 4, Tucker 2 3 0-0 13, Long 1 1 8-14 13, Jolley 2 0 2-2 6, Hortin 6 0 2-2 14, Thompson 2 0 0-0 4. 2FG-15, 3FG-4, FT-12-18, PF-9.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – Duvall - Gallatin County.

Galatia (47) – Carlile 1 0 0-0 2, Frailey 3 0 6-8 12, Trevor Hale 2 1 0-3 7, Lawrence 0 0 0-0 0, Pritchett 0 0 0-0 0, Wright 9 0 2-4 20, Thatcher 0 0 2-2 2, Williams 2 0 0-0 4, Ammon 0 0 0-0 0, Tristen Hale 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-17, 3FG-1, FT-10-17, PF-12.
Crab Orchard (45) – Rooker 0 1 1-2 4, I. Dawes 7 1 0-2 17, Ray 1 0 0-0 2, Throgmorton 1 2 0-0 8, Norris 6 0 0-1 12, N. Dawes 0 0 0-0 0, Williams 0 0 0-0 0, Richardson 1 0 0-0 2.
2FG-16, 3FG-4, FT-1-5, PF-21.
Fouled Out – Ray - Crab Orchard.
Technical Fouls – None.