By CHARLES PENDELL

charles.pendell@mcleansborotimesleader.com

McLEANSBORO — Hamilton County guard Clint Hopfinger showed his offensive skills at just the right time as the Foxes seized a one-game lead in the Black Diamond Conference with a 51-44 win over visting Carmi on Friday night.

The Foxes jumped out to a 6-0 lead and were ahead 13-10 when Duke Griesemer, the Foxes’ 6-foot-6, 230-pound senior center, hustled at midcourt for a steal, then rambled downcourt, making a spin move down low and stopping to put in a 3-footer.

Aaron Cravens knocked down a trey just ahead of the first-quarter horn to give the Foxes an 18-12 lead.

In the second quarter, Hopfinger scored seven points — including a banker trey from the top of the key — and teammate Brandon Webb tipped in a Hopfinger miss at the halftime buzzer to give the Foxes a 29-25 lead.

Hopfinger scored five more in the third quarter, which ended with the Foxes still up by four, 39-35.

In the final frame, the Foxes were up 43-39 when Griesemer jumped out of bounds to save the ball back into Robert Rubenacker, and then Carmi picked up a steal and went hard to the basket, only to get the shot attempt rejected by Griesemer.

In the closing minutes, Hamilton County hit five free throws to take a 51-42 advantage with 25 seconds to go and seal the win.

Hopfinger led the Foxes with 17 points, while Justin Webb had 12 points and seven rebounds and Griesemer had nine points, 12 boards and two blocked shots. Robert Rubenacker added seven points, Cravens four and Brandon Webb two for the Foxes.

Fox coach Curt Reed wasn’t pleased with his team’s production at the free-throw line.

“We have to step up and make our free throws,” Reed said. “We were seven-of-17 at the line, and most times that won’t win games, missing that many chances. That will get you beat.”

He noted, though, that the Foxes had just five turnovers.



Sesser-Valier 48, Foxes 43

In the second meeting of the season between Sesser-Valier and Hamilton County, the Red Devils held off the host Foxes in the final minutes to post a 48-43 victory in the Diamond Duels Shootout on Saturday.

In the first meeting between the two teams, Sesser ran over the Foxes 79-59 at the Benton Invitational.

In the rematch, Sesser hit back-to-back treys in the second quarter to take a 26-18 lead at the half.

Early in the third quarter, the Red Devils reeled off seven in a row to up their advantage to 33-22 and went into the fourth quarter on top 35-27.

During that third quarter, Foxes Steven Lemmons and Brandon Webb knocked heads and the game was stopped because of blood on the floor and the players’ jerseys. Webb went to the dressing room to stop the bleeding, Lemmons went to the bench and both had ice packs put to their wounds.

To start the final stanza, Griesemer had a rebound basket, Adam Irvin hit a trey and Justin Webb hit two free throws to get the Foxes within 37-34 with 4:45 left.

Two free throws by Robert Rubenacker cut the margin to 39-36, but Sesser went on another 4-0 run to put the lead at 43-36.

Brandon Webb then scored on a baseline move, followed by two freebies by Sesser. Webb again drove the baseline for two, narrowing the Sesser lead to 45-40 with 36.2 seconds to play.

Sesser hit another free throw with 23.2 seconds left, but then fouled Justin Webb driving to the bucket. Webb hit his second free toss, cutting the margin to 46-41 with 13.8 seconds remaining.

Sesser hit its final two free throws with six seconds left for a 48-41 advantage. Brandon Webb ended the contest with a drive for two at the buzzer.

The Red Devils improved to 17-9, while the Foxes dropped to 15-13.

Brandon Webb led the Foxes with 13 points and nine rebounds. Hopfinger, Griesemer and Irvin each scored six, and Griesemer added nine boards.