Big second quarter propels Hickman past Hannibal

COLUMBIA — A 30-point second quarter propelled the Hickman Kewpies past the Hannibal Pirates 78-53 on Saturday night.

Hannibal head coach Brad Kurz said it is hard to win a game when you have a quarter where your team gives up 30 points.

“We came out flat and put no offensive pressure on them,” Kurz said. “You are not going to win many games when you turn the ball over like we did in the second quarter.”

Kurz said his team took too many quick shots, which allowed the Kewpies to get out in the open floor where his team’s lack of speed was exposed.

“When a team has that much more athletic ability than you do, you can’t let them get running like that. You can counter that by not turning the ball over, but we could not do that,” Kurz said.

Kenny Ash, Hickman’s head coach, said his team needed a great quarter not just for this game but to help get over the tough loss to Rock Bridge Thursday night.

“We just had to come out and play hard. It was a tough and emotional loss the other night,” Ash said.

Ash credited his team’s defensive pressure and his bench for the big quarter.

“We needed some guys to come off the bench and step up and we did that tonight,” Ash said.

Senior forward Michael Thomas came off the bench to lead the Kewpies with 18 points.

“It felt great out there tonight. I’m glad coach gave me the opportunity,” Thomas said.

Hickman’s record is 8-12. The Kewpies play at Logan-Rogersville Friday.