DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY
Editor
Montgomery County News
MALVERN – The Nashville Scrappers ended the 2015-16 season with a heartbreaking 55-50 loss at the hands of the Huntsville Eagles in the first round of the 4A State Tournament.
The Scrappers shot well in the first half, hitting eight of 19 shots from the floor while Huntsville hit eight of 21. The difference in the half was three pointers with the Eagles hitting four of 12 while Nashville only hit one of six.
The two teams battled back and forth in the opening minutes with the Scrappers having a narrow 15-13 lead at the end of the first period.
Huntsville was able to seize the momentum in the second quarter to the tune of an 11-8 run. The Eagles held a tenious 24-23 lead at the half.
The Scrappers were able to outshoot the Eagles from the floor in the second half, hitting 10 of 19 and three for five from the three point line to Huntsville’s nine of 14 and two of four from the three point stripe. The difference in the game would be free throws with Nashille hitting four of six while the Eagles hit 11 of 14 down the stretch.
Huntsville outscored Nashville 16-15 in the third and held as much as a 12 point lead in the fourth before Nashville cut the lead to five. The Eagles were still able to outscore Nashville 15-12 in the fourth to earn the win and eliminate the Scrappers from the state tournament.
Darius Hopkins was eight of 17 from the floor, including two three pointers and was 6-6 from the charity stripe for a team leading 24 points for the Scrappers.
Trey Hughes scored 14, including two three pointers. CJ Spencer scored five, Winland Ogden scored four, DK Kight scored two and Jhalon Finley scored one.
CJ Spencer led the team in rebounds with one offensive and six defensive grabs, followed by Tre Hughes with three offensive and three defensive rebounds. Darius Hopkins had four rebounds, TD Walton and DK Kight each had two and Winland Ogden had one.
CJ Spencer had two blocked shots. Darius Hopkins had two steals and CJ Spencer, Winland Ogden and Jhalon Finley each had one steal.
