RABBITTOWN — This is what happens when you face vintage East Hall basketball -- especially in the playoffs.
Ringgold ran into a Vikings team keyed in on defense and red-hot from beyond the 3-point arc on Wednesday, as East Hall exploded for a 86-59 victory in the first round of the Class AAA playoffs in Rabbittown.
East Hall buried the Tigers under a barrage of early 3-pointers, draining 12 in the first half alone en route to a 50-30 lead that Ringgold never truly threatened. East Hall finished the contest with 17 made 3-pointers.
Yet as impressive as the Vikings' accuracy was, their defense proved just as crucial, as East Hall forced 25 turnovers -- including 17 in the first half en route to their early cushion.
"I told them in the locker room at halftime that that was an East Hall basketball half," Vikings coach Joe Dix said. "Good shooting is contagious, and we've been shooting the ball well here lately. Making shots also allows you to get into your press.
"We had a feeling this may be coming though. We had a dialed in locker room before the game, a reserved locker room. The kids were just focused."
The win pushed the Vikings (21-7) into the Class AAA second round, where they will play host to Westside on Saturday in Valhalla.
East Hall would love nothing better than a repeat performance, as the Vikings will look to get back to the Class AAA quarterfinals for a second straight season.
"Every time you move on in the state tournament you have to step your game up," Dix said. "We're going to have our hands full in the next round. But we're playing well right now -- and we're sharing the ball."
Four players finished in double digits for the night, including 16 for Andy Lara, who drained four 3-pointers. Triston Cooper was right behind with 15 points -- all on 3-pointers, as the senior put on a gutty performance while playing through an injured ankle.
"There's no ligaments there," Dix said of Cooper. "But if he's feeling anything bad, he's not showing it. All he did this week was come in shoot. But he shot well in practice, so we thought he might shoot well tonight."
Luke Holtzclaw also added 13 points, including four made 3-pointers, while Tylor Brown finished with 11.
"I talked to Luke Holtzclaw before the game about playing with confidence and shooting the ball," Dix said. "We said let's let the gun blaze."
East Hall won the opening tip and began firing immediately, Brown draining a 3-pointer on the first possession of the contest. Cooper followed with his first trey, followed by a pair of 3-pointers from Lara, as the Vikings sprinted to a 12-2 lead with 4:30 left in the quarter.
It was a cushion that Ringgold never truly threatened -- thanks in large part to East Hall's defense.
The Vikings' full-court pressure left the Tigers (10-18) bewildered, as Ringgold turned the ball over 17 times in the first half.
It was practically blood in the water for the Vikings, who seemed unable to miss from behind the 3-point arc.
East Hall finished the first quarter with five treys, as they built a 25-12 lead, and added seven more in the second quarter, as Brown, Lara, Holtzclaw and Cooper took turns burying long-range efforts. Cooper proved especially keyed in, drilling three more 3-pointers in the second quarter to finish the half with five.
Holtzclaw provided the hot hand after the interval, drilling three treys to finish with four 3-pointers and help ensure no thoughts of a comeback for the visitors.
Mac Brower led Ringgold with a game-high 21 points -- but just five of that in the first quarter with the game still in the balance. Bailey Gaines added 10.
BANK COUNTY BOYS 80,
COAHULLA CREEK 61
Zez Steeple poured in 42 points to go with six boards and four assists to lead the Leopards to a big road win in Dalton.
Kahmal Wiley had a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds while Zac Orr added eight points, five rebounds, and five assists for Banks County (24-4).
The Leopards improved to 10-1 on the road on the season with the victory.
