Hawks clobber Caverna, pluck Eagles

 The visiting Hawks struggled from the arc and the free-throw line, but still managed to pick up a 65-45 win Jan. 22 over the Eagles of Louisville Evangel Christian.

Terry Sandidge

Guard Thomas Harman stared down the offense in recent Hawk action.

Buy this photo

LaRue County was 3-of-19 on 3-pointers and 14-of-30 from the line.

“We started off sluggish on the road,” said head coach Paul Childress. “It was 26-20 at halftime. We played real lethargic in the first half but with more energy in the second, creating several turnovers.”

“We were able to get some guys on the bench some valuable varsity time,” he added.

Senior guard Kelton Ford led the Hawks with 21 points, seven rebounds and four steals, while junior forward Kody Key-Close added 17 points and five steals.

Senior guard Dustin Coulter chipped in with 10 points and two assists. Junior guard Thomas Harman scored nine points; Caleb Sheffer scored five and had nine rebounds.

Micah Wiseman scored one point and had six steals. Michael Neal scored two.

Caverna clobbered

The visiting Hawks routed the Caverna Colonels, 75-43, on Saturday. The game was postponed from Friday due to icy conditions. 

The win locked up the No. 1 seed for the 18th District Tournament for the Hawks. Caverna beat LaRue County on its home floor earlier this season.

“The guys were ready to play,” said Childress. “In the first quarter we didn’t make a lot of shots early on but were playing good defense.”

The Hawks held Caverna to five points in the first quarter.

“We were able to close the second quarter on a run and extend the lead to 11,” said Childress. “The second half may have been our best half of the year in terms of teamwork, execution and energy. Everyone contributed something in this game. We played to the level where we expect this team to get to. I was really proud of our defense and passing in the second half.”

Ford led LaRue County with 22 points, nine steals, eight rebounds and four assists, while junior forward Tyler Howell had 12 points and six rebounds.

Coulter added 11 points, three steals and two assists, while Key-Close neared a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Junior guard Michael Neal scored 10 for the Hawks, who outscored the Colonels 47-24 in the second and third quarters.

Sheffer added six points; Wiseman had two.