HCC survives late Lakers rally

March 04, 2001

HCC survives late Lakers rally

By BOB PARASILITI

It was a rate of basket exchanged that made Hagerstown Community College rich and Garrett Community College go broke.

Every time the Hawks needed a key basket, it rained 3s. For Garrett, it was the conventional duece. You don't have to be a math major to figure the rest.

HCC made good on the first goal of the weekend, counterpunching with key 3-point baskets and jabbing with strong post defense to nail a crucial 93-79 victory over Garrett Saturday in the semifinals of the Region XX Tournament at the HCC athletic complex.

"There are some nights when the 3 falls and some nights when it doesn't," HCC coach Jim Brown said. "When we hit them, we are pretty tough."

The Hawks (27-4) were extremely tough Saturday, hitting 41 percent from behind the arc to just 16 percent for Garrett. HCC outscored Garrett 9-4 from 3-point range - a total of 15 points - in the 16-point victory.

With the victory, the Hawks advance to the Region XX final against arch-rival Allegany, the top seed which received a bye into the finals. It also secured HCC an invitation to next week's District Tournament.

HCC erased the first half of its lost January weekend, when it was swept by Garrett and Allegany. The Hawks have won 11 straight.

The Hawks jumped out to the early lead but allowed Garrett to close to within 25-24 with 6:37 to go in the half. Julius Gause hit two of HCC's three 3-pointers in the next 1:14 to give it a cushion building to a 47-39 halftime lead.

HCC built a 17-point lead as Corey Tabron scored four of his team-high 19 to open the second half. Bayi Handy hit a pair of 3s en route to his 18 to help boost the lead to 75-55, allowing HCC to withstand the closing rush.

"Julius kept us in the game in the first half with his 3s and Bayi kept us going in the second half," Brown said. "We've been through this (weekend

doubleheader) before and didn't do too well. Today, we changed the first half of it this time around."

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