Although Hobbton Middle’s boys started off in a bit of a shooting slump, they were able to find their confidence and the basket by the third quarter and eventually get the 37-22 win over Union Middle.

It was, said Hobbton coach Jackson Temple, a good game.

“Our shooting was off in the first quarter, but our rebounding kept us in the game. Then in the third quarter, everything started clicking for us.”

It was a low scoring first quarter with Hobbton leading at the end of the period by only 4-3. Things moved a bit faster in the second period, with the middle school ‘Cats able to pull out ahead and take a 17-12 lead into the break.

“Honestly, rebounding kept us in the game,” Temple stressed. He said at the half his team made a commitment to come back out and work to get the fast breaks and turn them into points. Knowing how well the team was rebounding, Temple said he believed that would work for them.

It did.

In the third period, Omar Farrior hit three 3-pointers in a row to help Hobbton Middle extend their lead. And, using their rebounding to get the fast break, the ‘Cats were able to capitalize to pull ahead 36-18 by the end of the third.

“They really hustled, and Union played a good game too, particularly on defense.” Temple said.

Farrior led scoring for Hobbton Middle with 22 points. Also scoring was Caleab Robinson, 8; Walter Thompson, 4; and Raquan Bryant, 2.

Farrior, Robinson and Bryant, Temple said, also had double-digit rebounding.

Chris Nash led scoring for Union with 8 points. Also scoring was Nader Godwin, 7 points.

The win moves Hobbton’s record to 4-5. Their next game is against an undefeated Sampson Middle team next Thursday, Feb. 7.