Prep basketball -- Howell sparks Eagles past Hobbton

By Neil Fuller
Published in Sports on January 6, 2005 1:57 PM

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Senior guard Matt Howell scored nine fourth-quarter points Wednesday night to lead the Rosewood men's basketball team out of a tight spot and into the win column.

Howell recorded a 3-pointer and two open layups as part of a 13-0 run to begin the final period as the Eagles moved back to the .500 mark with a 53-40 win over visiting Hobbton -- Rosewood's second victory in as many nights.

The Eagles (5-5) defeated Class 1-A Carolina Conference foe Spring Creek 60-57 on Tuesday.

"Matt really got it done for us," Rosewood coach Daniel Mitchell said. "Our entire team was playing heads-up in an unselfish style. We were finding the open man (in the fourth quarter). That got us some easy buckets."

As Howell lit up the scoreboard, Hobbton (4-4) failed to produce a single fourth-quarter point until there was 3:54 remaining -- allowing the Eagles to take control of a game that they led 34-32 at the end of three periods.

Wildcats guard Jojuan Faison was limited to one second-half field goal after hitting three second-quarter 3-pointers to help Hobbton take a 23-21 lead into intermission.

"I thought we were really fatigued in the first half," Mitchell said. "We had a pretty tough game last night. That really took its toll on us in the first half. We were sluggish." Hobbton coach Jeff Byrd could offer up no excuses for his team's late collapse.

"I just don't think we gave 100 percent here," Byrd said. "Rosewood just outplayed us. They played hard, and that's what it comes down to."

Every player on the Rosewood women's roster scored at least one basket in a 70-13 rout of the winless Lady Wildcats earlier in the night.

Lady Eagles center Jessica Hill scored all of her game-high 13 points in the first half, and Hobbton produced a mere four field goals while committing 38 turnovers.

"We've got a lot of girls that can play," Rosewood coach Jerry Narron said. "It's definitely nice to see everyone get the chance to play and play a lot of minutes."

A reverse layup by Eagles senior center Kyle Grey tied the men's game seconds into the third quarter, and Danny Langston's 15-foot jump shot gave Rosewood the lead for good.

Grey finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, and Langston added nine points. Howell had 11 points.

"Games like this prepare you for the tough conference schedule," Grey said. "It's always been a great rivalry between us and Hobbton. There's a tradition with this series. Usually, one team doesn't win by more than a few points." Mike Lee was Hobbton's second-leading scorer with eight points."

Shanita Monroe scored 11 points for the Lady Eagles.

Tracey Williams led the Hobbton women, who trailed 35-7 at halftime, with six points.