Photo By Sports Editor Jeffrey Reynolds
Burch’s Ryan Hatfield (32) shoots for two of his game high 25 points versus the Man Hillbillies last night in sectional action. Despite Hatfield and his teammates efforts, Man proved to be too much as the Hillbillies won 61 to 46.
WILLIAMSON, – The Man Hillbillies proved that they deserved the No. 2 seeding in the sectional tournament as they came out strong from the start and never let up as they earned a berth in the finals with a 15 point 61 to 46 win over the Burch Bulldogs.
The Hillbillies came out strong and quick scoring 18 points in the first frame and rushing out to a quick lead. The Bulldogs on the other hand, came out looking somewhat “flat” scoring only 11 points in the frame with six of those coming from the games leading scorer, Ryan Hatfield who would finish the night with 25 points.
With Man holding a 7 point lead going into the second quarter, the game became a defensive struggle as both teams pounded the boards for rebounds. he two teams traded baskets with one another for virtually the entire period, with each team scoring 14 points in the frame. This meant that Man took a 7 point lead into halftime. Of Burch’s 14 points, Ryan Hatfield scored 12 of them.
When they came back out in the third period, they again traded baskets fairly evenly with each team scoring 11 points in the period. This allowed Man to maintain their lead at 7 going into the final quarter of play.
Man came out strong in the fourth, knowing scoring 18 points to Burch’s 10. This allowed the Hillbillies to cruise to a 6 - 46 win to seal their spot in the regionals and in the sectional championship game Friday night against the No. 1 seeded Matewan Tigers.
Burch’s Hatfield led all scorers with 25, followed by Man’s Travis Hurley wit 18, Cory Spence with 16 and Ryan Crum with 15.
“The boys wanted it. They didn’t want tonight to be their last game” said Man Coach Jimmie Justice. “I told them in the third quarter they had the potential to be a really great team. And i can’t say enough about the way Ryan Crum stepped up for us tonight. We needed that performance.”
“We shot 27 % and had 18 turnovers.There’s not many teams you’re going to beat doing that.” said Burch Coach Kevin Hatfield, “That’s the most turnovers I’ve ever seen from a Burch team and that goes back to when I played and (former Burch Coach Mike) Smith coached. I don’t know what happened tonight- we just made too many mental mistakes. And we can’t keep saying it’s youth and inexperience, because they’ve got a season of experience behind them now. We were just trying to force things .We made just a lot of stupid mental breakdowns -we’re still playing well. I just don’t know.”
Burch 11 14 11 10 - 46
Man 18 14 11 18 - 61
Scoring by Team:
Burch: R. Hatfield 25, J. Stratton 9, D. Hatfield 8, K. Hill 2, G. Vinson 2.
Man: T. Hurley 18, C. Spence 16, R. Crum 15, E. Riggins 6, A. Copley 3, T. Browning 2, J. Simpson 1.
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