Strong second half leads Hoggard past Ashley

February 7, 2012

Box Score

WILMINGTON, NC - Hoggard used 10-0 and 8-0 runs to start the third and fourth quarters on Tuesday night as they pulled away for a 54-37 win over Ashley. Junior guard Joe O’Donnell led the Vikings with 22 points as Hoggard clinched second place in the Mideastern Conference. This marks the seventh consecutive season that Hoggard has finished first or second in the conference.

Hoggard (16-5, 7-2) scored just one basket in the first quarter and trailed throughout the first half. O’Donnell kept the Vikings in the game by scoring 11 points without missing a shot in the first half.

In the second half, Hoggard pounded the ball inside to Darius Plummer and Trevor Singleton and began to pull away from the Eagles. Plummer scored 14 of his 15 points in the second half while singleton finished the game with 10 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and five blocks.

Hoggard called time out with 1:01 left in the first half, trailing 18-12. When Ashley called time out with 4:35 left in the third quarter, Hoggard had scored 14 consecutive points to take control of the game.

The Vikings were outstanding on the defensive end throughout the game. They forced 20 turnovers, held Ashley to 33 percent shooting from the floor, and committed just nine fouls.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Hoggard JV team overcame a 13 point second half deficit to defeat Ashley 58-56 in overtime. The JV team is now 11-6 overall and 6-3 in the Mideastern Conference.

Hoggard will close out the regular season on Thursday night when they host New Hanover on Senior Night.