Boys Bash Eagles In Thriller!

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Boys semifinal at Tom Drake Coliseum - Hanceville

Good Hope 10 12 19 14 - 55
Vinemont 12 9 10 9 - 44

HALFTIME: Vinemont 25-22

GOOD HOPE (18-9): Matt Blackmon 13, Kyle Aycock 12, Brody Whitlock 12, Tyler Rutledge 7, Scott Motes 3, Trace Moody 4, Taylor Hollis 4.

VINEMONT (18-8): Tyler Creel 22, J.J. Smith 8, Josh Wynenandt 4, Chris Fuller 4, Brock Meherg 3, Tyler Speegle 2, Jordan Marchman 2.

Good Hiope played some inspired basketball in the second half and shut down Vinemont with only Tyler Creel able to keep the Eagles in contention.

The Eagles regained the lead in the third period when Creel scored from three-point range to make it 30-28. Then Good Hope took over thanks to the play on the offensive side by Matt Blackmon and third period scoring too from Bnody Whitlock, Scott Motes, Trace Moody, Kyle Aycock and Tyler Rutledge.

A 19-10 run in the third sent the Raiders ahead 41-35 and the defense put the clamps on the Eagles in the last 8:00 with the likes of Rutledge, Moody,

Blackmon and Whitlock rebounding very well on the defensive area near the basket and not given many second chance opporunities for Vinemont to cash in.

Creel was the only weapon to deliver on a consistent pace for the Eagles but it was not enough in Bobby Meyer's ball club seeing their seven-game winning streak come to a stop with their first loss of the month.

For David Hulsey in his rookie season coaching the Raiders, it has been very sweet for a team to overcome a slump prior to entering the tournament and produce wins against Holly Pond and now No. 2 seed Vinemont and trying to get the Raiders over the obstacle Saturday with Good Hope out for its first title in the county since 2004.

The Raiders will be playing in the title game for the first time in two seasons.