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Rivalries are everywhere. Some are geographical, some are born from number of games that are played against each other. Others come from the intensity, passion and meaning of those games. Celtics- Lakers, Cowboys-Redskins, Yankees-Red Sox. Add Hornets- Eagles to the list.

The Hill City- Northland Rivalry has all the above, and last Thursdays game included the right to move on in the Section 5A Tournament to face the Barnum Bombers.

The Eagles jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead. The Hornets answered with 8 of the next 10 points to take a 10-8 lead before the Eagles took a timeout to calm the game. Coming out of the timeout the Eagles retook the lead and were ahead 15-13 when Taylor Smith knocked in a pair of 3-pointers to start a 10 point run by the Eagles that put them up 25-13. The remainder of the half was a draw with each team equaling the other as the half ended with the Eagles up 38-26. The scoreboard showed a comfortable lead for the boys but foul trouble had starters Jordan Perkins and Gary Gross with 3 fouls each going into the intermission.

The second half started with Hornets scoring 5 of the first 7 points to cut the lead to 38-31 with 16:30 left. More importantly both Gross and Perkins picked up their 4th personal fouls and had to take a seat on the bench. The Hornets seemed to have gained the momentum from the Eagles but over the next few minutes the Eagles gained it back and forged out to a 46-35 lead with 14:15 still to play. The next 9 minutes saw the Hornets again cut into the Eagle lead and with just over 5 minutes to go after a 3-pointer of their own, had the Eagles lead down to only 6 at 55-49. As quickly as you can say Zak Nornberg the junior guard knocked in a 3 pointer of his own that took the momentum back to the Eagles. The remaining few minutes had the Eagles playing keep away and good defense to not allow the Hornets to close the gap any further to pull out the impressive 64-55 victory.

The win gave the Eagles the right to move on in the tournament and gain the advantage this season (2-1) in the Highway 200 Rivalry.

Leading the way for the Eagles with another steady performance was Patrick Kemper. The Senior ended his home career with another double-double (18 points and 13 rebounds). The Eagles had four players scoring in double figures on the night. Reserves Austin Likens and Justin Wicks played key roles in the game when fouls started to mount for starters. G. Gross, Smith and Nornberg added nine, six and five rebounds. The win puts the Eagles at 11-13 on the season.

Scoring vs. Hill City- Smith-11; Likens-3; Nornberg-5; Kemper-18; G. Gross-15; Wicks-10 and Perkins-2.

Saturday nights game against Barnum in Mora was rescheduled due to weather conditions.[[In-content Ad]]

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