ANOTHER BUZZER BEATER! Kyrese Simpson sends Hillcrest past Fair Grove with the layup as time expires in overtime. Hillcrest wins 57-55. pic.twitter.com/ankTPmN65A
— Ozarks Sports Zone (@OzarksOzone) December 28, 2024
By Tyler F. Thompson (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
For the 5-2 Hillcrest Hornets, Friday’s opportunity was knocking and ripe for the taking.
At the Blue Division quarterfinals at Great Southern Bank Arena, the Hornets, behind the timely dribble penetration by 5’10” sophomore guard Kyrese Simpson, overcame multiple deficits and defeated Fair Grove 57-55 in overtime.
After a timeout was called with fewer than 15 seconds, Simpson, as the play broke down,stayed true to the right elbow as he sliced his way through the Eagles’ interior defense en route to the game-winning layup.
“When you have good players, they make plays for you,” Hillcrest head coach Jordan Fielding said. “Instincts kicked in for Kyrese, so kudos to him. He just made the right play.”
Simpson initially was forced to dish off the ball at the left wing, before taking it around and through the defense.
“It was supposed to be for me going to the rim on the right side, but it broke down,”
Simpson said. “They blew it up. I got the ball, made the play, won the game.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
As the teams broke for overtime, the mindset never wavered.
“I think it was just play hard, go for all of the loose balls. Get stops on defense,” Simpson said.
And get stops they did, as the Eagles were held to just one basket in the final four minutes of play.
After Simpson’s shot to commence the overtime period didn’t fall, the Hillcrest defense clamped together, forcing a timely turnover.
After Kyle Winterberg scored on the backdoor cut to put the Eagles up 55-53, back-to-back misses by Fair Grove set the table for Simpson and company.
James Collins connected for the score via dribble penetration, knotting up the contest at 55 with 1:13 remaining.
“We got stops when it mattered,” Fielding said.
The physical nature of the game will suit the Hornets just fine against Kickapoo, whom they meet at 7 p.m. Saturday at Great Southern Bank Arena.
The physicality of the tilt epitomizes the Blue and Gold, per Simpson.
“They were fouling. [Calls] weren’t going our way. We pushed through it,” Simpson said.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE GAME
At the half, the teams combined for 14 turnovers, and Fielding said tempo was vital during the final 20 minutes of action.
As for tomorrow night’s showdown with Kickapoo, Fielding expects the same type of battle.
“It is going to be the same kind of physical game, especially with the guards,” Fielding said.
Scoring for the Hornets:
Levi Romero 15, Tanner Hicks 9, James Collins 5, Kyrese Simpson 18, Jayven Jones – 8, Ethan Weaver 2
Scoring for the Eagles:Spensar Seiger 29, Sam Kennard 2, Kyle Winterberg 4, Kellen Kirkpatrick 6, Bryden Baxter 12
