By Chris Parker
Hartville, the boys basketball program, has been to the state quarterfinal round many times in its history.
The members of the 2023 Hartville boys basketball team had not until Friday night.
Early on in the Class 2 state quarterfinal against Marionville, that inexperience showed, but the Eagles quickly acclimated to beat the Comets 57-43 and advance to the Class 2 final four.
Marionville jumped out to an early 11-4 lead on the Eagles forcing a second timeout from Hartville head coach Brett Reed at the 4:41 mark of the first quarter.
His message was simple.
“Just relax,” Reed said. “For all of these guys it was the first time that they had been in this situation. They just needed to relax, calm down and play the way I know they can play.”
Hartville heeded Reed’s words and closed the quarter on a 9-2 run to tie the game up at 13-13 after the first eight minutes.
Hartville never led in the first quarter. After a basket 19 seconds into the second quarter, Hartville never trailed again. The Eagles led by as many as seven in the second quarter before taking a 24-20 lead into the half.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
In the third quarter, Hartville was perfect from the field building up a 17-point lead at 44-27 after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, Marionville cranked up the defensive intensity trying to pick up steals and get easy buckets.
“Marionville is a very physical team,” Reed said. “They’re a football school and they have some athletes over there. We definitely have to work on taking care of it a little bit better down the stretch.”
“They are a very physical team. My mentality was to try and be as tough as I could, try not to make any turnovers and get it down to my teammates and make the free throws,” Hartville’s Logan Simpson said.
Hartville was able to withstand the onslaught to pick up the win and advance to the program’s eighth final four.
“It never gets old,” Reed said. “I think a lot of people overlooked this group to start the year. For them to get there, I am really proud of them and just glad I get to be along with for the ride.”
Hartville was led by Payton Cogdill with 17 points. Simpson also scored in double figures with 11. Seven different Hartville players scored with six scoring at least five points.
Blane Young scored 13 points to lead Marionville. Wil Carlton added in 12 points.
Hartville has made it a habit of making the final four over the six years that Springfield has been the host. This will be the last year for at least the next five that Missouri State will host as the tournament moves back to the University of Missouri starting next year.
“It means a lot (to play in Springfield),” Reed said. “Springfield is kind of like a home court for us after playing there at the Blue & Gold and getting four games up there. We are excited to go up there. We are excited to see what we can do, and we are going to take it one moment at a time.”
Hartville (25-5) will face Salisbury (27-3) in the Class 2 state semifinals at 4 pm on Mar. 10 at Hammons Student Center on the campus of Missouri State University.
Marionville – 13-7-7-16 – 43
Hartville – 13-11-20-13 — 57
M: Blane Young 13, Wil Carlton 12, Gage Guerin 8, Hugh Eaton 4, Bryer Guerin 4
H: Payton Cogdill 17, Logan Simpson 11, Jalon Cryer 8, Haylton Bel 7, Grant Culver 7, Jackson Ward 5, Mason Cogdill 2
