Jaxson Williams of the Vikings is fouled while going up for a shot in the opening quarter. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
By RICKEY CLARDY
Sports Writer
UNIONVILLE— After a 19-0 run midway through the game gave the Community Vikings a 45-27 lead, it appeared the Vikings were on a straight path to give Coach Hunter Ferrell his first win as head coach of Community.
The Santa Fe Wildcats looked to spoil the party as the Wildcats came back to tie the game late, but four free throws in the final minute by Charlie Haskins saved the day as the Vikings defeated the Wildcats 61-57 in a Hall of Champions basketball game Friday night.
“Credit to Santa Fe. They played hard,” Ferrell said. “I thought our guys, even despite all the craziness still stayed pretty level, which is what we’ve been preaching.”
“High school basketball season is a long season,” Ferrell added.
“A high school game feels like an eternity sometimes with how many stoppages there are.”
The contest stayed close in the opening quarter.
Jaxson Williams led the Vikings with six points and Haskins and Andrew Tocchio each added treys as Haskins and Johnathan Lawwell each picked up two fouls. The Wildcats ended the quarter with a 16-14 lead.
The lead changed hands seven times in the second quarter as both teams looked to gain the upper hand.
Haskins netted five points and Williams added four as the Vikings scored the last five points to take a 31-27 lead into halftime.
With the help of seven straight points from Haskins, the Vikings scored the first 14 points of the third quarter to complete a 19-0 run and took a 45-27 lead with 5:31 remaining.
The Wildcats bounced back with a 7-0 run of their own, but Community (1-1) still held a double-digit lead of 52-41 at the end of the quarter as Haskins led the way with 11 points.
“Everybody thinks of the shots going in, but defense is what really started our run,” Ferrell said.
“Defensively, we came out really intense and got a few easy steals and a few easy buckets and were able to build up on our lead.”
The Vikings led 57-46 with 4:38 remaining in the game before the well ran dry.
Community went over three minutes without a point as the Wildcats made a comeback bid. Brandon Sisk had two treys in the quarter, including a three-pointer with 1:03 left that tied the game at 57-57.
With the game on the line, the Vikings received a huge break as a Wildcat technical foul gave Community two free throw attempts.
Haskins nailed both tries with 53 seconds left to give the Vikings a 59-57 advantage.
Haskins added two free throws with 27 seconds left to up the Community lead to 61-57.
The Viking defense prevented the Wildcats from getting a good look on offense the rest of the way as the Vikings prevailed.
“I thought we played a great defensive possession there at the end, not giving them what they wanted,” Ferrell said.
“A win is a win, and we’ll take it right now.”
Haskins had 24 points to lead the Vikings in scoring while Williams added 10.
T.C. Brady had 17 points as three Wildcats reached double figures.
Jax Slaughter finished with 15 points while Sisk added 11.
The Vikings will play three games in the Cornersville Thanksgiving Tournament and started the tournament with a contest against Mt. Pleasant on Monday.
Santa Fe 16 11 14 16 – 57
Community 14 17 21 9 – 61
Santa Fe: T. C. Brady 17, Jax Slaughter 15, Brandon Sisk 11, Carson Adkison 9, Gage Mills, Judd Slaughter 3, Sloan Sauter 2.
Community: Charlie Haskins 24, Jaxson Williams 10, Joshua Powers 6, Johnathan Lawwell 4, Masyn Hill 3, Andrew Tocchio 9, Zach Leathers 3, Logan Reed 2, Karson Boyce, Maddux Thompson.
3-Point goals: Santa Fe (7): Brady 3, Sisk 3, Judd Slaughter; Community (8): Haskins 3, Tocchio 3, Hill, Leathers.
Halftime score: Community 31, Santa Fe 27.