Whether it was outside or inside, the Cosby Eagles could score.
The Hampton Bulldogs couldn’t find an answer to the Eagles’ offensive output, falling 70-61 at Cosby in a Region 1-A Tournament opener.
The loss marked the end of the Bulldogs season.
Cosby advances on to the region semifinals to be played at Sullivan North High School on Wednesday. The Eagles will take on the winner of Monday’s game between Hancock County and North Greene.
The Eagles used a 10-0 drive towards the backend of the first quarter to take a 22-9 lead heading into the second period. Cosby’s rally saw the 6-foot-plus Austin McKeehan have his way inside as he posted seven points of the Eagles’ run. Eagles Troy Johnson knocked down a 3-pointer to push Cosby further ahead down the first-quarter stretch. Cosby had three treys in the opening quarter.
Hampton found some momentum late in the first half as the Bulldogs scored eight straight points to cut Cosby’s lead to eight points, 31-23. Hampton’s Jordan Bentley made four straight free throws to help narrow the Eagles lead to single digits.
Cosby, however, took a 38-25 lead into the half after Eagles Brandon Shiffet made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to send the teams into the locker rooms.
After ending the second with the trey, Shiffet opened the third with a trey which started a 13-3 run by the Eagles that gave Cosby a 51-30 lead over Hampton.
After three, Cosby led 58-42 over Hampton following a 3-pointer from Bulldogs Matt Hughes to end the third.
Scoring 19 points, the Bulldogs had their most productive quarter in fourth. The Eagles posted 12 in the quarter to keep the Bulldogs caged up. Hampton’s Connor Jones had eight points in the fourth to help the Bulldogs cause.
Bulldogs Izaak Hill led Hampton with 16 points while Bentley followed up with 14.
Johnson led the Eagles with 18.