In the first round of the Bill Frye Classic held on December 27, both Hackett Hornet and Lady Hornet Sr High basketball teams took on the Waldron Bulldogs. The Lady Hornets hit the court first and immediately Hackett was all over the Lady Bulldogs like white on rice. Giving zero breathing room, the end of the first quarter ended with a one-point gap at 9-8 Waldron. The Lady Hornets shadowed the Lady Bulldogs every move flawlessly and by halftime, the score read 20-20.
Although Hackett was still very much full of grit, the Lady Hornets started to lose their muster allowing the Lady Bulldogs to pull ahead and take the win 40-28. Faith Thomas led her team with nine points followed by Kayla Richardson with six and Rain Vaughn with four. Madi Taylor, Autum Neal, Shayla Foster, and Brooke Holt combined for the remaining points. “We are still learning on both ends of the floor. The girls are working really hard and getting better every day,” expressed Coach Broc Adams. The Lady Hornets will move on in the tournament, playing again on Saturday, December, 28 at 9 a.m. against Mulberry.
Next up it was the Hornets taking on the well oiled Bulldogs team. If there was ever a game that the Sr Hornets could put as a bench point, this was it. If the Hornets were supposed to lay down to the powerhouse Waldron team, no one gave them that memo. Hackett started slowly going down 20-6 at the end of the 1st quarter, but the Hornets were merely playing possum. The Hornets started off the 2nd quarter quickly stinging the Bulldogs, frustrating Waldron at every corner on offense and defense.
Hackett found the Bulldogs kryptonite down low in the paint and took full advantage of it by feeding Zach Gragg the rock every chance they got to close the gap to a 35-23 Waldron lead at the half. After the half, the Hornets continued to give it all they had and used a swarming defense to keep forcing the Bulldogs to change their offense on multiple occasions. In the end, though, Waldron was just too much of a force for Hackett to overcome as the Hornets fell 64-48.
Zach Gragg was the giant who couldn’t be chopped down as he led the Hornets with 13 points in the game. Dylan Kats rounded up nine points while Ty Smith contributed seven points on the night. Cash Oliver had six points, Jake Fisher had five points, and Tyler Satterfield had four points in the game. Ethan Slavens sank a three-pointer while Austin Cowell swished a free throw for one point. “Defense intensity is becoming more and more detailed and effective,” stated Coach Kent Elmore. “Shots will begin to fall. I could not be more proud of the buy-in and effort in the past two weeks. Culture creates success!” The Hornets will play in the second round of the Bill Frye Classic on Saturday, December 28 at 10:30 a.m. against Mulberry.
