Hope ninth grade boys hoopsters finished in the final four of tourney play hosted at De Queen in the 2018 Winter Invitational Jr. High Boys Upper Division basketball tournament.
Hope ninth grade boys hoopsters finished in the final four of tourney play hosted at De Queen in the 2018 Winter Invitational Jr. High Boys Upper Division basketball tournament. After defeating Caddo Hills in first round, Hope advanced to the semifinals falling to Nashville Jr. Scrappers 42-18, which ended their run in tournament competition.
Hope kept their contest close in the early going of their match-up against Nashville. In first quarter action, Hope and Nashville matched each other and ended opening period play knotted 7-7. In the second, Hope got outscored 12-3 and at the break, Nashville took an 19-10 lead advantage into the locker room.
In the second half, Hope provided productive defense to hold Nashville to five points scored in the third period, but Hope was held to only two points. At the end of three periods, Hope trailed Nashville, 24-12. In the fourth, Nashville sparked big and outscore Hope 18-6, which led to the Jr. Scrappers victory and ending Hope's play in the tournament.
For the game, Hope's Zykeis Raglon and Cory Lewis led scoring with seven points apiece, Travion Rhodes and Lavario Morris each had two points apiece.
This Thursday night if weather permits, Hope ninth grade boys hoopsters will travel on the road to face Texarkana to close out their series meeting for the season in junior high basketball action.