Hoboes outlast Gators

BAKER – Tuesday’s boys basketball game between neighbors Laurel Hill and Baker was not for the weak of heart or mind.

The Hoboes and Gators battled it out for the full 32 minutes and in the end it was Laurel Hill pulling out a 57-52 win.

To say the teams were evenly matched would be an understatement,

The game started just as it would unfold with the teams trading baskets.

Hobo senior Tyler Zessin picked up the game’s first basket on an offensive rebound. And 20 seconds later the Gators (9-14) answered with a basket by Tikea Davis.

At the end of the first quarter the game was tied 11-11. About the only difference in the first quarter was the Hoboes (13-10) got their scoring from five different players while Baker’s Garrett Sanders scored eight for Baker in the first quarter.

Eight minutes later, when the half ended, the score was still tied at 26-26. Danny Spicer took over for Sanders in the second quarter scoring eight points and Travon Calloway almost matched that total with 11 points for the Hoboes.

Laurel Hill coach Kent Zessin praised the play of both teams in the first half.

“The first half was probably the best half I’ve seen of two teams getting after it,” he said. It was just back and forth.

“I told the guys at half time it was going to be the little things -- hitting the free throws and doing the little things, and the game was going to come down to the wire.”

The Hoboes might have taken care of the little things better in the second half, but they got a big boost from post player Lane Strickland, who scored 14 of his game-high 16 points in the final two quarters.

With Strickland taking over in the paint with eight points in the third quarter the Hoboes tried to pull away. Laurel Hill led 43-35 after three, but the game was far from over.

Josh Hartzog did his best to will the Gators back in the game in the fourth quarter as he scored eight of his 11 points, but the Hobo lead was just too big to overcome as Laurel Hill held off Baker’s late charge.

Sanders led the Gators with 13 points. Hartzog and Spicer each scored 11 points.

Strickland was joined in double figures for the Hoboes by brother Travon and Tamaria Calloway. Travon Calloway had 15 points ands Tamaria added 11.

Baker coach Mike Martello was gracious in defeat.

“We knew what to expect,” he said. “They just did a little bit better job of executing than we did especially in the second half. Their defense in the second half set the tempo and we never could get it going offensively and I just give it all to their defense in the second half.

“They really stepped up big.”