Hidden Valley forced three turnovers in the last 40 seconds and had the potential game-winner clang off the backboard as time expired and the Titans fell to AAA Franklin County 44-42 Monday night in Rocky Mount.
The young Hidden Valley team controlled the tempo throughout, frustrating the taller and quicker Eagles from the outset.
The Titans trailed 23-20 at the half, and tied the game at 35 in the fourth quarter before Franklin County went on a 7-0 run to go up 42-35. Hidden Valley cut the deficit to the final margin with 40 seconds left on a pair of Dylan Hodson free throws.
That set the stage for the frantic finish that saw Hidden Valley get three shots off, force a jump ball and press Franklin County into throwing the ball away twice, the last with 1 second left.
Dylan Hodson led the Hidden Valley attack with a game-high 22 points.
“This was a great effort on our part for being the first game,” Hidden Valley head coach Troy Wells noted afterward in the Titan locker room. “We played our tempo, and that gave us the opportunity to win. Good things will happen with effort like this.”
BILL TURNER game story/photos
