BEARCATS RIGHT SHIP, SWAT HORNETS

Coming off of back-to-back losses, the Booneville Bearcats righted the ship Wednesday night in Hackett, swatting the Hornets 55-49 behind 22 points from Noah Harrel and 16 rebounds from Dax Goff.

Hackett led by six to start the second half but the Bearcats (11-6, 6-3 Conference 3A-4) threw a shutout for almost seven minutes while going on a 12-0 run to both flip the margin and match their largest lead of the game at 40-34.

Goff scored twice, Harrel three times, and Cody Sum had a basket during the exclusive two point run.

The Hornets stopped the bleeding with a 3 before a Goff free throw closed the scoring for the quarter and made it 41-37.

Hackett went back in front with the first five points of the final quarter but Harrel answered with a 3 for the Bearcta and it was 44-42 with 4:32 to go.

Hackett tied it, then went ahead in a span of 32 seconds but Colter Fisher re-tied it and Dakota Mattson gave the Bearcats a 48-46 with 3:09 left.

Mattson’s field goal would be the last one of the night for the Bearcats.

With just over a minute to go Hackett started to foul and would do so four times to force the bonus. A free throw by Harrel made it 49-46 with 56.5 seconds left.

After a Hackett miss Harrel hit again from the line with 34.6 seconds to go and it was a two-possession game.

That would prove big as Hackett hit its 11th 3 with 15 seconds to go to make it 50-49.

But, a pair of Fisher free throws made it 52-49 and Fisher swiped the inbound pass and hit one more with 11.4 second to go to make it two possessions again.

Two free throws by Goff would st the final at 55-49.

Early on it was a three points shooting exhibition. The Bearcats hit five in the opening quarter. Fisher got it started with one and Mattson followed suit for a quick k6-0 lead. Harrel then hit three before the quarter ended.

Hackett was up to the challenge hitting five of their own and having a free throw shooter sink three when fouled on a shot from beyond the arc.

It was 19-19 after the first quarter shooting demonstration and was it was tied again at 21 on a basket by Goff but the Hornets took control of the game over the rest of the half, building as much as a nine point lead with 1:10 left in the second quarter.

A Wesley Fonseca 3 closed the game to 34-28 at the intermission.

The Bearcats are on the road again tonight at Cossatot River and are seeing the Eagles, also 6-3 in league play for the first time.