CLEVELAND - The North Hall boys basketball team overcame a 15-point halftime deficit to beat Union County to advance to the championship game in the 6th annual White County Tip-off Classic Tournament.
Two late baskets by backup Josh Haymore, including the game-winner with five seconds left, lifted North Hall to a 67-65 win over the Panthers.
Down 65-63 with just over a minute to play the Trojans' Martin Estes stole the basketball and drove to the basket but missed the lay up. Haymore, however, was there to clean up and tied the game at 65-65.
Then the Trojans (2-0) recovered a rebound and Haymore drove the lane and hit a floater over one of Union's big men to give North Hall the win.
Haymore, a sophomore, hit the biggest shot of his career so far.
"It was a big confidence boaster," Haymore said about making the winning shot. "They had a post player on me and I figured I'd go for it."
The Trojans had gotten themselves in a tight spot by halftime, trailing 39-24. But in the third quarter the Trojans came alive scoring 15 points in the first three minutes to pull within 42-39.
By the end of the quarter North Hall had scored a total of 33 points in the eight minutes and held a 58-52 advantage.
But Union fought back and took a 65-63 lead after a 13-5 run. Then Haymore hit his two baskets to give North Hall the win.
Haymore said the locker room was intense during halftime.
"It was crazy, had a big talk in the locker room, a lot of (talk) saying we weren't going to let it happen again this year, " Haymore said about not losing to Union County.
North Hall has won the White County Tip Off Tournament every year it has been going on except last year. This year the Trojans were determined not to lose to Union.
Tim Cox was North Hall's leading scorer with 16 points and he also added six steals. Cox was also big in the second half turnaround with his defensive and offensive play.
Haymore finished the game with 12 points and seven steals. Kyle Wiley finished with 11 points and nine rebounds and Charlie Hawkins added 10 points.
Union's top players were Michael Ross with 16 points and Trey Gunther had 18.
North Hall will play Habersham Central in the championship game at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Union will play White County in the consolation game at 5:30 p.m.
Team:.........................................1......2.......3.......4....OT.......Final
Union Co. ..................................20....19.....13.....13......0...........65
North Hall...................................12....13.....33......9......0...........67
Union County (65): Banks 2, Payne 5, Austin 10, Collier 4, Garrett 9, Ross 16, Gunther 18, Neely 1.
North Hall (67): Hawkins 10, Haymore 12, Hill 8, Cox 16, Estes 5, Chase 5, Wiley 11.
Monday
May 13th, 2024
1:48PM
