Hunter Huss boys outlast Hickory in OT, advance to sectional final

GASTONIA – When the week started, Hunter Huss High coach Ron Bray and his team were as concerned as you can be about junior forward Jontavian Hall’s sore left ankle.

So was Hall.

But on Wednesday, after Hall played briefly in Monday’s first-round N.C. 3A playoff victory over R-S Central, he and his teammates gave it their all to survive Hickory 75-64 in overtime.

Hall’s steal and layup four possessions into the extra period gave Huss the lead for good and a chance for a sectional title Friday night at home against Freedom. Freedom (18-10) is the No. 1 3A seed from the South Mountain Athletic Conference and beating visiting Enka 61-49 in its Wednesday’s second-round game.

Fellow junior Jihad Wright led the Huskies (22-3) with 26 points and made all nine of his field goal attempts. T.J Wilson added 17, Jarvis Anderson 16 and Hall 10.

"It’s probably the biggest game we’ve played," said Hall, a three-year starter. "This was a game we had to have."

For Hall, the injury in last Friday’s Big South 3A Conference tournament victory appeared to be a flashback to the disappointing end to his football season. An all-conference defensive end in 2008, Hall missed the last six games with a broken left index finger.

"I’m thinking, ‘Not again,’" Hall said. "Because at first they said it was a severe ankle sprain."

But Hall’s diligence to treat his ankle with ice and rest helped his recover quickly enough to be cleared by doctors on Sunday to play Monday. Then, the Huskies’ 84-54 win over R-S Central allowed Bray to rest Hall more than usual.

"He’s done everything the doctors and trainers have asked to be ready to play," Bray said.

In Wednesday’s game against Northwestern 3A/4A Conference regular-season champion Hickory (22-4), Hall knew he’d have to play through some pain.

"It’s hurting right now," Hall said afterwards. "It was hurting during the game. But this is the playoffs."

The heroics of Hall and his teammates were necessary to eliminate the Red Tornadoes, who got 19 points from Mississippi commitment Tyler Poole and 16 more from standout forward Denzel Dillingham.

Huss’ efficient offense – it made 59 of its shots – and solid perimeter defense eventually helped the Huskies advance to a sectional final for the first time since 2007.

Hickory missed its first 11 3-point tries, then nailed three in the fourth quarter as it forced overtime at 59-all.

But while Huss was converting five of six field goals and all six free throws in the extra period, Hickory missed nine of its 11 field goals, including all four 3-pointers, and one of its two free throws.

"We had to play good defense or they would’ve beaten us," Bray said. "We’re playing a lot of confidence right now. So much that we’re so excited right now we’ll have to settle them down before Friday’s game. But that’s a good problem to have this time of year."