On Dec. 28 in the Hawks' Invitational title game, Blackville-Hilda High varsity boys came up shy of their championship bid in a 45-36 loss to Ridge-Spring Monetta High.
Blackville-Hilda High didn't resemble the team that shot 54 percent from the field in the semifinals against Bamberg-Ehrhardt High.
Against Ridge-Spring Monetta, the Hawks' shooting went cold with the team connecting on only 10 of 42 shots. Blackville-Hilda missed eight of its last 10 shots.
"It was a tough game all the way around. We just never found our shooting," Blackville-Hilda High coach Michael Beasley said.
"After a tough first half, we finally found some rhythm in the second half, but it was a little too late."
Meanwhile, the Ridge-Spring Monetta Trojans had no trouble putting the ball in the basket.
The Trojans went seven of 12 from the field in a 15-5 run to close out the game. Alonzo Smith led the Trojans' offensive charge with 14 points on six of 10 shooting from the field and two of three from the free throw line.
For Blackville-Hilda High, Roderick Smith recorded his second straight double double performance. Smith collected 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Also playing well were Darren Jones with six points and five assists and Jwan Jenkins with five points and seven steals.
On Dec. 27 in the semifinals, the Hawks knocked off the Red Raiders of Bamberg-Ehrhardt High by a score of 62-57.
Behind the hot shooting of Darren Jones, the Hawks soared to a 24-17 halftime lead and never looked back. Jones erupted for 19 points, including a season high five three-pointers. Jones also contributed eight steals and six assists.
Others stepping up offensively for the Hawks included Jwan Jenkins, Roderick Smith and Montrel Isaac.
Jenkins notched a double-double with 16 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, 10 steals and four assists.
Smith had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Isaac had a solid game with seven points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots.