Huge Hawks payback vs. Bearden at HVA
HARDIN VALLEY — Friday, Jan. 20, Bearden High School’s boys’ basketball team hosted Hardin Valley Academy, and the Bulldogs defeated the Hawks 55-37.
Friday, Feb. 3, BHS traveled to HVA for this District 4-4A rematch — and the result was eye-poppingly different.
From the very end of the first half to about three minutes left in the third quarter, Hardin Valley scored 24 straight points, turning a 27-22 lead into 51-22. The result was a resounding 68-38 win.
“We went through a lull the last couple weeks,” Hawks head coach Andy Arendt said. “We needed to come back to earth. There’s another level we can get to. I told my assistants I think we’re getting there. I think we realize what it’s gonna take to get to the next level.”
“We just didn’t answer the bell tonight,” said Jeremy Parrott, BHS head coach. “We didn’t have an answer for anything they did. When your shots don’t go in, a hot team can hurt you.”
HVA (21-6, 6-3 District 4-4A entering this week) stayed in contention for second place in the district as the post-season looms. Bearden fell to 15-10, 3-6 entering the week.
The Hawks started fast, leading 7-0 out of the gate and were up 18-10 after one quarter. The eight-point lead held to half as each team had two minor scoring runs in the second period. Ben Brophy’s trey with a second left before half gave HVA a 30-22 lead.
Then came the third quarter.
While the Bulldogs struggled to score, the Hawks scored at will. By the time the Dawgs’ King Hubbard hit two free throws with 2:50 left, HVA had scored 21 unanswered points in the third, and the game was long over.
The Hawks’ final nine points in the third came from three treys by Brophy, and the quarter ended with HVA leading 60-29.
Arendt then substituted widely in the fourth.
Brophy, a sophomore wing, led all scorers with 19. Guard Bryson Frey added 15 and senior post Jack Smith 12. Hubbard, a sophomore guard, was high for Bearden with eight.
“They kept falling so I just kept shooting them,” Brophy said. “I feel like we played harder this time.
“We were more prepared and locked in,” the sophomore added.
“We were tougher. We made some shots in the second half,” Arendt said. “This is a great win; it puts us in better district seeding” for the upcoming district tournament.
