Jacksonville played Cherokee County High School Monday night (score unavailable at press time) in another area game and will play Cherokee County again on Friday night at Centre.
The Eagles (5-2, 2-0) had to overcome a nine-point halftime deficit to take the win at Hokes Bluff.
Jacksonville was led by senior Ethan Maske, who scored 20 points – 11 of them from the foul line.
The Golden Eagles kept pace with the Eagles of Hokes Bluff until midway through the second quarter.
Tied at 17-all, Jacksonville’s Tristan Garmon, who finished the game with five points and nine rebounds, hit a layup to put the Eagles up 19-17. The lead was short lived when Hokes Bluff hit a three to go up by one.
Four straight free throws, a layup and then another free throw by Hokes Bluff gave them a 27-19 lead before the Golden Eagles finally scored on a shot from inside the lane by Josh Willis. The Eagles went into the locker room down 29-20.
Whatever Coach Anthony Kingston said to his Jacksonville squad at the half they took to heart as the Golden Eagles came out and outscored Hokes Bluff 14-5 in the third quarter.
Deonte Elston, who finished with 11 points for Jacksonville, started off the scoring in the third quarter with a free throw followed by two points from the line by Nick Quinn.
Jacksonville got two quick buckets off of their press, one by Maske and one by Elston and the Eagles were down 34-27.
Two more layups by Elston and another by Maske and a free throw by Tyler Ross tied up the score at the end of the third quarter.
The Eagles finally took the lead on the first basket of the fourth quarter, another foul shot by Ross, and never looked back. Jacksonville’s press kept Hokes Bluff off balance.
The Eagles scored 15 of their 35 second half points from the line. Jacksonville’s had two 12-point leads in the fourth quarter.
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