CHARLOTTESVILLE — In a jam packed gym, the Eastern Hancock Royals’ seniors had quite the sendoff in the final regular-season game of their high school careers, defeating Hagerstown 70-39.
The Royals honored seven graduating seniors before the game, and each contributed to the team’s victory.
“Most of these guys have been with us since they were little kids,” Royals coach Aaron Spaulding said afterwards. “So they’ve really been the program so to speak.”
Addison True, who became the school’s leading scorer and rebounder last week, had another stellar game to add to his career totals. Early in the contest he attacked the basket to get to the line and outscored the entire Tigers team 14-13 in the first half.
True finished the game with 26 points and six rebounds.
In the third quarter, Hagerstown put together a run to get the Royals’ lead down to 30-24. After this, they decided to put on a full-court press to go for the lead. The Royals made them pay for that decision. The press backfired as the Royals went on a 15-0 run that included three of the Royals’ 10 3-pointers in the game.
“They all seemed to be hitting their shots tonight,” said Spaulding. “But they’ve been playing together for so long that we move the ball really well and they all set themselves up for shots.”
After the third quarter run, the Royals never sweated the outcome. Other graduating seniors are Tyler Castle (10 points), Duncan Cherry (nine points), Tyler Blattner (eight points), Jacob Eischen (six points), A.J. Muegge (six points) and Luke Splater (one point).
The victory improves the Royals’ record to 17-6, and their attention now turns to sectional play.
“We’re playing really well right now,” Spaulding said. “(No. 11 Indianapolis) Howe is the favorite, but they were the favorite last year too and didn’t win it; so if we take things one day at a time anything can happen.”
The Royals will take the court next Tuesday at 6 p.m. against the host Shenandoah Raiders.
