Rams rally past Hawkins

PORTLAND The eighth-seeded Hawkins Middle School boys basketball team never trailed in Thursday evening’s Sumner County Conference Tournament opener … until the final 20 seconds.

Ninth-seeded Rucker-Stewart rallied over the final three minutes to capture a 42-40 win over the Commandos at Portland West Middle School.

“In the fourth quarter, I think they just realized it was all or nothing,” Rams’ head coach Chris Williams said. “This is our first comeback win.

“I told the players to be ready and know your role, and I told the eighth-graders, ‘this could be your last game.’”

Consecutive baskets by Issiah Chandler, Brett Jarrett and Zak Oden gave Hawkins a 39-30 cushion with 2:30 remaining.

However, Williams felt that the ensuing comeback was sparked by seventh-grader Jackson Richardson, who came off the bench. Richardson has played sparingly this season.

“Jack stepped up and played great,” Williams said. “Jack was ready to step up. Jack is smart. He responded. Once one player takes the lead, we follow that player.

“We play in the Station Camp seventh-grade league (on Saturdays), and he goes 100 percent every play. I’ve never seen him quit or take a play off. It’s his energy. He sparked us. He started it with a steal.”

Richardson had his squad’s only basket over the first 3:58 of the fourth quarter.

Forwards Caleb Donovan and Luke Springer scored four points each as Rucker-Stewart closed the game on a 12-1 run, with Donovan’s putback pulling his squad within a point with 39 seconds left.

Hawkins (2-13) missed an interior shot moments later that was rebounded by Ram guard Kavon Blankenship, who was fouled as he grabbed the basketball. Blankenship made both free throws with 19.5 seconds remaining to give his squad its first lead (41-40).

A blocked shot by Donovan and Blankenship’s steal of a floor-length, baseball pass in the final seconds helped Rucker-Stewart hold on.

Jordan Zuger scored seven of his game-high 19 points over the game’s first three minutes as the Commandos raced out to an 11-2 lead.

Rucker-Stewart (6-9) pulled to within two points late in the first half, but Zuger’s three-point play created a 23-18 margin at halftime.

Hayden Minor’s floater late in the third quarter pulled the Rams back to within two points entering the fourth quarter.

Springer finished with a team-high 14 points, and Blankenship provided 12 points.

Chandler backed Zuger’s production with 13 points.

The two teams played twice during the regular season. Rucker-Stewart captured a 37-36 win at Hawkins on Nov. 5, but the Commandos rolled to a 34-19 victory on the Rams’ home court on Dec. 10, in the only of those two games that factored into the conference standings.

Rucker-Stewart advanced to face top-seeded Knox Doss in Saturday’s quarterfinal round.

Reach Craig Harris atcharris@mtcngroup.com or at 615-575-7138. Follow him on Twitter @HarrisGNESports.

RUCKER-STEWART (42) – Luke Springer 14, Kavon Blankenship 12, Caleb Donovan 6, Hayden Minor 5, Bryshawn Bell 3, Jackson Richardson 2.

HAWKINS (40) – Jordan Zuger 19, Issiah Chandler 13, Zak Oden 4, Brett Jarrett 2, James Bundy 1, Jalen House 1.

Half: 23-18, Hawkins. Three-point goals: Rucker-Stewart 0, Hawkins 3 (Zuger 2, Chandler 1). Records: Rucker-Stewart 6-9, Hawkins 2-13.