Hampton Jr. Bulldogs falls short in bid for state tournament
Published 8:02 pm Saturday, February 8, 2025
C.Y. Peters/Star Correspondent Rylan Jones (1) drives the lane for a layup for two points for the Jr. Bulldogs.
C.Y. Peters/Star Correspondent Gabe Vines (30) goes up strong in the paint.
C.Y. Peters/Star Correspondent Gabe Vines (30) shoots a jumper from the baseline.
C.Y. Peters/Star Correspondent Gabe Vines (30) goes up strong with three defenders on him.
C.Y. Peters/Star Correspondent The Hampton Jr. Bulldogs finished second in the sectional tournament.
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By C.Y. Peters
Star Correspondent
The Hampton Jr. Bulldogs boys’ basketball team’s dream of reaching the state tournament came to an end on Saturday as a red-hot Ridgeview team pulled off the upset in the sectional championship. Coach Leon Tolley’s Bulldogs had fought their way through a challenging season, securing league, area, and regional titles along the way, but their journey ended just one step short of the ultimate goal.
From the opening tip, Ridgeview’s physical defense made life difficult for Hampton’s big man, Gabe Vines. The dominant post player found himself constantly held, wrapped up and pushed around, facing relentless pressure every time he touched the ball. Despite his efforts to break free, Vines was held to just two first-half points. Hampton, struggling to find its rhythm offensively, missed several easy opportunities and trailed 14-10 after the first quarter.
By halftime, the Bulldogs’ shooting woes continued, and a scoreless stretch of more than three minutes allowed Ridgeview to extend its lead to 26-16. Rylan Jones provided a late spark with two free throws, cutting the deficit to eight as the teams headed to the locker room.
Hampton came out with renewed energy in the third quarter, tightening up defensively and outscoring the Badgers 10-5. Jones came up with a key steal and basket with 30 seconds left in the period, bringing the Bulldogs within three at 29-26. However, missed free throws—only converting 4 of 9 attempts in the quarter—kept Hampton from fully closing the gap.
In the final frame, Hampton’s full-court pressure forced multiple turnovers, including a crucial 10-second violation that gave the Bulldogs a golden opportunity to take the lead. Vines finally found space to knock down a jumper, pulling Hampton within one at 29-28. Moments later, Cooper Kleinsmith drilled a three-pointer, giving Hampton its first lead of the game.
However, just as quickly as they found their rhythm, the Bulldogs went cold again. A string of turnovers and missed shots allowed Ridgeview to regain control. Braylon Worley buried a clutch three-pointer, and Jacob Allison added key baskets to help the Badgers pull away for a 42-35 victory.
Despite the disappointment, Coach Tolley remained proud of his team’s accomplishments. “I’m very proud of our team. We came a long way this season, and their best basketball is ahead of them. We ran into a buzz saw today, and Ridgeview outplayed us and deserved to win,” Tolley said.
Though their state tournament aspirations fell short, the Bulldogs’ remarkable season will be remembered for their resilience, teamwork and championship-level effort. Hampton finishes the year as league, area and regional champions, with a hard-fought second-place finish in the sectional tournament.
