HAGERSTOWN, Ind. – The Hagerstown boys basketball team defeated Seton on Friday night 52-40.
“For three quarters, I thought we defended decent,” Hagerstown Head Coach Bobby Jones said. “When the fourth quarter rolls around, we just don’t do a very good job.”
“We let the other team’s best player take over and do what ever they want to do,” Jones continued. “We’ve got to go back to the drawing board and start playing the way we are capable of playing.”
Hagerstown led 14-8 after one period and then 24-14 at the half. In the third, the Tigers built a 37-16 advantage with 3:03 remaining before the Cardinals began working their way back.
“Give a lot of credit to Seton,” Jones said. “Those kids didn’t quit and they kept battling.”
The Cardinals were able to close the gap to 46-38 with 2:14 left.
In the end, six free throws by Hagerstown’s Trey Kelley and four more by Jalen Oliver in the final period proved to be the difference.
“That’s pretty good and that’s what you need guys to do,” Jones said. “Especially, when you’re not up to par. It wasn’t a great showing for us as a team. We’ll take the win.”
Evan Hoover led the Tigers with 14 points, while Oliver added 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Isaiah Neal finished with nine points and Kelley had eight.
Hagerstown (6-1) meets Indianapolis Lutheran at the Edinburgh Tournament on Tuesday, Dec. 27.
Box Score
SETON CATHOLIC (3-5) – Billie Webster III 8 0-1 18, Zach Rogers 0 4-5 4, Sam Brenneke 1 1-2 3, Trent Reichley 2 5-5 10, Nick Mathews 0 5-6 5, Nick Berger 0 0-0 0, Adam Deitsch 0 0-0 0, Jake Leverton 0 0-0 0, Jaden Swiderick 0 0-0 0, Jacob Berger 0 0-0 0, Louie Falcone 0 0-0 0, Jacob Royer 0 0-0 0. Team – 11 15-19 40.
HAGERSTOWN (6-1) – Trey Kelley 1 6-7 8, Trent Weiss 2 2-2 7, Isaiah Neal 3 1-3 9, Jalen Oliver 3 6-6 12, Evan Hoover 5 4-4 14, Jared Andis 0 0-0 0, Mason Hicks 0 1-2 1, Silas Parsons 0 1-2 1, Drew Pyle 0 0-2 0, Matt Parson 0 0-0 0. Team – 14 21-28 52.
Seton Catholic 8 14 25 40
Hagerstown 14 24 37 52
3-pointers – Seton Catholic 3 (Webster 2, Reichley), Hagerstown 3 (Neal 2, Weiss). Rebounds – Seton Catholic 24 (Webster 8), Hagerstown 46 (Oliver 14). Turnovers – Seton Catholic 10, Hagerstown 14. Fouls – Seton Catholic 21, Hagerstown 23.