Bulldogs advance past Hancock County
Published 11:31 am Monday, February 27, 2023
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Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
Just prior to the introduction of Hampton’s starting five for the Regional Class 1A play-in game against the Indians of Hancock County, inside the VanHuss-White gym, head coach Ned Smith gave his Bulldogs some final instructions for the start of the game.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
After the Indians of Hancock County missed their opening shot, Hampton’s Michael Anspaugh #4 grabs the rebound, races down the court, stops, pops and tickles the twines for three to give the Bulldogs an early lead.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
Hampton’s Cadon Buckles #11 intercepts an Indians pass and fires a quick outlet pass to Michael Anspaugh #4, who goes straight to the rack for hoop and the plus one early in the first quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
The Bulldogs Hayden Campbell #34 buries this turnaround jumper over Hancock County’s Chandler Ferguson #55 early in the first quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
Hampton’s Levi Lyons #0 and Caden Buckles #11 apply backcourt pressure to the Indians Chandler Parson #5 mid-way through the first quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
The Bulldogs Cadon Buckles #11 turns the corner on Hancock County’s Mason Wallen #3, drives the baseline and dishes off to Hayden Campbell #34, who powers to the hoop, is fouled, then hits and one to start the second quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
The Bulldogs Cadon Buckles #11 is fouled from behind by Hancock County’s Noah Belcher #45 as he fires up a short-range jumper just outside the lane early in the second quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
Hampton’s Cadon Buckles #11 out jumps Indians Shane Keck #21 and pulls down a rebound mid-way through the second quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
Hampton’s Hayden Campbell #34 is all business as he drills another turnaround jumper in the lane over Hancock County’s Chandler Ferguson #55 late in the second quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
Hancock County’s Chandler Ferguson #55 elbows were flying and the Bulldogs Dylan Trivett #1 hit the floor; though contact was made, no foul was called late in the second quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
Hampton’s Chance Point #22 finishes a Bulldogs fastbreak with a layup late in the second quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
After an errant pass gets away from Indians Chandler Parson #5, Hampton’s Chance Point #22 and Tuff Robinson #32 try to trap him along the sidelines with some full-court pressure very late in the second quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
The Bulldogs continued to run at the start of the third quarter when Geno Carrico #35 races down the court to finish a fastbreak with this layup.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
The Bulldogs Dylan Trivett #1 takes the inlet pass from Cadon Buckles #11 right to the rim for two early in the third quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
Hampton’s Hayden Campbell #34, with the Indians Orry Fugate #24 all over him, hits the baby hook mid-way through the third quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
The Bulldogs Cadon Buckles #11 works his way around Hancock County’s Noah Belcher #45 and scoops in a layup late in the third quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
The Bulldogs Michael Anspaugh #4 slices down the lane past Hancock County’s Noah Belcher #45 for a layup late in the third quarter.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
This is how you end a quarter. With under 15 seconds left in the third, Hampton’s Cadon Buckles #11 steals a pass in the back-court and soars down the lane for the near dunk to put Bulldogs up 71-43 with just one to play.
STAR CORRESPONDENT
The Hampton Bulldogs offensive machine was on full display on Saturday in the Region1A quarterfinal played at Van Huss / White gymnasium. Four Bulldogs players scored double figures as Hampton (24-7) sent Hancock County home for the season with an 88-55 victory that propels the ‘Dogs to the region semifinal.
“The kids played good defense and we had 15 assists,” said Bulldogs head coach Ned Smith. “We shot 51 percent and I thought Hayden did a good job defensively in the post against their big guy. He didn’t foul and he played straight up. We played a lot of kids off the bench and had a good rotation.”
The ‘Dogs were challenged by Hancock County (7-25) in the first period as forward Brady Swiney dropped in a pair of trey’s and guard Noah Belcher had one as well. Hampton took an 18-15 advantage into the second period and that’s when the wheels fell off for the Indians.
Hampton outscored Hancock 25-8 in the stanza to open a 43-23 halftime lead; from there, the blowout was fully on. The Tribe showed a willingness to battle the Bulldogs but did not have the firepower to overcome the deficit.
Senior guard Cadon Buckles scored a game-high 20 points finishing off his night with a midcourt steal and a dunk, while junior guard Michael Anspaugh finished with 18 points. Others in double figures for the ‘Dogs were Geno Carrico with 15 points and Hayden Campbell with 13.
For the Indians, Swiney led the way with 17 points, backed by 15 points from post Chandler Ferguson and ten from Belcher.
Region 1A Quarterfinal
Hampton 88-55
Hancock Co (55)
Belcher 10, Swiney 17, C. Ferguson 15, L. Ferguson 2, Wallen 2, Keck 4, Fugate 5.
Hampton (88)
Lyons 4, Trivett 4, Anspaugh 18. Buckles 20, Campbell 13, Davis 3, Point 5, Di. Nave 2,
Robinson 4, Carrico 15.
Hancock Co. 15 8 20 12 – 55
Hampton 18 25 28 17 – 88
3-point goals: HC 7 (Swiney 4, Belcher 2, Fugate 1), H 5 (Buckles 2, Anspaugh 1, Davis 1, Point 1)