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Before the match-ups were set, Bob Jones, Hazel Green, and Sparkman were all competing for one thing: the chance to be called Area 15 champions. The Area 15 champ would also host the area tournament beginning tonight. Hazel Green won the coin toss breaking the 3-way tie, claiming the at-home advantage. Bob Jones would play Sparkman, and Hazel Green would play the last placed team, Buckhorn.
Bob Jones and Sparkman met twice earlier in the season, splitting the series 1-1. In the first game, Bob Jones defended their home-court and beat the Sparkman Senators by a whopping 23 points, 67-44. However, in the second head-to-head, the Senators regained their confidence and edged out the Patriots, 60-53. This time, the teams are playing at a neutral site.
“We are playing at a neutral site, but we still have to win. It’s win or go home. We just want to win and play on Monday,” said Coach Aderholt, the Bob Jones head varsity boys coach.
The Patriots are coming off a 2-game losing streak. Senior Josh Mitchell believes that the losing streak works in the Patriots favor.
“I think that us losing is a good thing. Now we are more focused on our game plan,” said Mitchell.
In addition to rebounding from the losses, Bob Jones must find a way to stop Sparkman’s inside-out playing style.
“We’ve been watching film. They [Sparkman] love to drive the ball hard and then kick it out to the perimeter. We just need to keep them out the lane,” said captain Tanner Finley.
Bob Jones will host Sparkman tonight at 6:00 p.m. at Hazel Green High School.
