JONESBOROUGH – For the second consecutive year the South Greene Rebels were crowned as the Hardee’s Classic Champions as they beat the home standing David Crockett Pioneers 80-62. It was a different South Greene team than the team that had to have a last second free throw in the semi-finals to get to the championship game.
Coach Terry Hoese said outside of an excited locker room, “We looked like a basketball team tonight, I’ll say that. I don’t know how you come out and play like we played last night and then come out and play like we did tonight. We have figure out how to do that every night, but I’m very proud of the effort tonight. I honestly don’t see a standout tonight, all around a great effort, everybody that came in the game gave me something, so I’m proud of them.”
Tournament MVP Jase Roderick scored nine of his 16 points in the first quarter to set the tone for the game. The big moment of the quarter was when Roderick dropped a triple from the top of the key that was followed by a three from the elbow by Chandler Gamble to give the Rebels a five-point cushion midway through the quarter. The rebels led 20-16 after a fast paced first quarter.
Gamble took over the game on both ends of the court as the second quarter started, scoring 12 consecutive to open the period. On the defensive end Gamble was clogging up the middle and pulling down nearly every rebound as the Rebels went up 32-19.
Nolan Street sank a corner three, then stole the ball and sent a pass down court to Brody McGuire for a layup that turned into a three-point play the old fashion way. Street then got another steal and went for an uncontested layup and the Pioneers were making a run of their own. Brady Gouge hit a pair of free tosses and dropped a triple from the top of the key to give the Pioneers hope at 40-32.
Gavin Dyer drilled a corner three near the end of the second quarter, giving South Greene an 11-point edge at the half at 43-32.
Cayden Filler hit a couple free throws to start the second half. Trey Gentry the came with a steal and sent a pass to Lucas Couch for a triple in transition. Gamble hit a short jumper with 3:44 remaining in the third quarter to increase the Rebels’ lead to 50-36. Gamble and Roderick then made back-to-back baskets and Couch hit a layup in transition through contact. The free throw was good, and the Rebels took a 15-point lead into the final frame at 57-42.
In the fourth quarter Fillers hit a turnaround jumper in the lane and a layup just seconds later. Then Gamble had back-to-back-to-back dimes to Will Arrowood and twice to Noah Wright. From there it was just a matter of ball control and the clock running out. The Rebs had more iron for their trophy case and their second straight Hardee’s Classic Championship at 80-62.
South Greene put four players on the All-tournament team, Roderick, Gamble, Fillers and Couch, all four were also in double digits in scoring, Roderick with 16, Fillers added 14, Couch had 11 points while Gamble had a game high 26 points to go along with 14 rebounds.
