HANCEVILLE — Jose Orozco got the opportunity he wanted for the Hanceville Bulldogs. In the final 30 seconds with the game against Cold Springs tied and Hanceville in possession, Orozco stroked a three-pointer from the right wing that would send the Bulldogs to a 62-57 upset of the No. 2 ranked team from Class 2A.
Orozco was held in check by the Cold Springs defense for the second half until the last half minute. The three was his first FG since the second period and gave him 13 points on the night.
The win allowed Hanceville to complete Cullman County regular season play at 5-1, putting the Bulldogs in 2nd place in the standings behind Holly Pond’s 5-0 record.
Hanceville is now 8-3 on the season and avenged a 66-53 loss to the Eagles in the title game of the Hanceville Thanksgiving Tournament two weeks ago.
Cold Springs experienced a rare moment with the Eagles losing their third in a row. The loss came a day after the state sportswriter’s put the Eagles second in the 2A rankings.
Neither side could get a big lead in the game. Hanceville was up 13-11 after the first then Cold Springs rode the scoring of Triston Chambers in the second to take a 30-29 lead to the locker room. The Samford signee had 14 in the period and 18 by intermission.
This was the beginning of a game that would exchange the lead on the scoreboard numerous times in the second half.
The game entered the fourth stanza tied at 42-42. Xavier Malcom had seven big points for Hanceville in the last quarter to set up his teammate, Orozco, for the go-ahead basket that turned out to be the game-winner.
Cold Springs missed on a three by Chambers to try and tie the score. Issac Weissend was fouled with 5.6 seconds remaining and made both to preserve a major triumph for Daniel Wakefield’s Bulldogs.
Malcom got 26 in this game with Orozco scoring 13, Jordan Peoples eight and Weissend seven.
Chambers attacked the Hanceville defense for a game-high 28 points with 14 coming from Josh Freeman.
The Bulldogs ran their record to 6-1 at Lane Horton Gym and have won four straight.
Cold Springs 55 – Hanceville 41 (Girls)
Emme Willoughby guided a balanced attack for the No. 5 Lady Eagles with 20 points. The junior produced seven in the first and second quarter and wound up with eight field goals, one from three-point range and three free throws.
Bailey West supported Willoughby’s 20 with 14 points, getting 11 at the foul line. Camryn Crider also netted 14, scoring nine in the second half and six in the fourth quarter.
The Lady Eagles are 8-4 on the year with Hanceville falling to 6-4.
Cold Springs was ahead 14-5 following the first, 27-15 at halftime and 42-30 at the end of the third. An 8-0 run in the fourth period extended the lead to 54-37 and Hanceville was unable to come back the rest of the contest.
Taylor Hollingsworth and Kaela Hall both scored 13 for the Lady Bulldogs with Karmen Johnson adding six.
