HVA boys fall in close one vs Karns
HARDIN VALLEY — Of all the things a basketball team can do that might drive a coach crazy, one is to miss easy shots.
Such was the plight of Hardin Valley Academy’s boys hoops team Thursday, Dec. 14, at home, as the Hawks fell to rival Karns 53-50.
Time and again HVA (8-5 starting the week) missed shots at or near the rim.
Another reason for the loss, “They were tougher than we were,” Hawks head coach Andy Arendt said. “We don’t have the mental or physical toughness to compete in rivalry games or when things start going crazy.”
Down 5-2 early, HVA used an 11-2 run to lead 13-7. It was 17-12 after one quarter. The Beavers dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Hawks 19-7 to take a 31-24 lead at the half.
When point guard Bubba Faulkner (scoring a team-high 20) drained a three with 5:59 left in the third, it gave the Beavers a 36-26 lead.
The Hawks promptly answered with 11 straight — the first nine by junior shooting guard Isaac Ratliffe — to lead 37-36. The quarter ended with Karns leading 40-39.
“Isaac Ratliffe was really good,” Arendt said.
AJ Gray’s three-point play with 4:02 left gave HVA a 42-41 lead, but Karns then scored six straight to lead 47-42 at the 2:25 mark. Blake Dawson’s trey with 1:19 left made it 50-43 and essentially iced the game.
“We couldn’t guard today and couldn’t make shots like we needed to,” said Ratliffe, who led all scorers with 21, 11 in the third.
Bryson Frey added 10 for HVA.
