HANCEVILLE, Ala. – The Class 3A, Area 11 tournament got underway on Thursday night as the Hanceville Bulldogs hosted the J.B. Pennington Tigers. The winner of that game would play the host of the area tournament, Vinemont, on Saturday night. It would be all Hanceville from the opening tip, as they got out to a quick double-digit lead and ended up rolling past J.B. Pennington, 62-33, to move on to the next round.
Hanceville didn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard, then building an early lead on top of that. Sam Abney found Drake Bentley down low for an easy basket to put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard first only six seconds into the game. They were just getting started, though, as Abney drained a three, Nick Davis hit a pair of layups, and Bentley brought the crowd to their feet with a one-handed slam to put the Bulldogs ahead 11-0. After being held scoreless for a little over six minutes, J.B. Pennington knocked down a short jumper to get on the scoreboard. Abney drilled a pair of treys to widen Hanceville’s lead to 17-4. A pair of threes by the Tigers cut it to 17-10, but Abney added a pair of free throws to end the first quarter for the Bulldogs, as they went into the second period up, 19-10.
It was all Hanceville from start to finish in the second quarter. Shawn Pilman knocked down a short jumper from just inside the free throw line, and Xavier Malcom drained a trey from the left wing to give the Bulldogs a 24-10 lead. A 5-0 run by J.B. Pennington cut it to 24-15, but the trio of Davis, Abney, and A.J. Carnathan took over after that. Davis buried a three from the left corner, then Abney got fouled after hitting a three from the left corner as well and ended up hitting the free throw, and Carnathan knocked down a short jumper to stretch Hanceville’s lead to 33-15. Davis put in a basket in the paint, Carnathan hit a pair of free throws, and Abney finished what ended up being a strong first half for the senior with two more threes to put the Bulldogs ahead, 43-18, at the break.
Hanceville continued to add onto their lead in the second half. Pilman knocked down a basket down low, Bentley scored five straight points, and Abney hit a shot in the paint to give the Bulldogs a 52-22 lead. Kade Schulz knocked down a three, and Bentley collected a steal and a layup to put them ahead, 58-25, going into the final period. The hot clock was in effect for the entire fourth quarter, and Javus Leusby hit a pair of baskets in the paint to put the finishing touches on a 62-33 win for Hanceville. The Bulldog defense held the Tiger offense to just nine made field goals for the entire game.
Abney led the way for the Bulldogs with a game-high 23 points. Bentley added 11 points, and Davis posted nine points.
Hanceville now has a date with the host of the area tournament, Vinemont, on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m.
SCORES FROM AROUND CULLMAN
(Varsity Girls 3A, Area 11 Quarterfinal) Hanceville 41, J.B. Pennington 33
