The Hartville Eagles drew another week of tough match-ups as they had to do battle with an improving Fair Grove squad then ended things with a Springfield contest against some familiar faces from Viola, Ark.
Fortunately, the Eagles were able to remain undefeated as they picked up another two victories.
Against Fair Grove at home, they had just a seven point lead at halftime before pulling away in the second half for a 66-49 victory.
Hartville jumped out to a 19-11 first quarter lead, but two Fair Grove 3-pointers in the second quarter cut the lead to seven.
The Eagles then had a 21-10 this quarter run as Ryce Piper scored 13 points in the frame.
Hartville added two 3-pointers in the fourth and cruised to the 17-point win.
It was a landmark day for standout seniors Piper and Braden Branstetter.
Piper led the Eagles with 27 points and eclipsed the 1,500 career point mark. Braden Branstetter added 13 points and moved pass the 1,000 career point mark in the win.
Brady Ward added 13 points; Cody Mahan scored six points; Eric Wilson had four points; and both Eli Cook and Bryce Coday had two points.
On Friday, Feb. 4, the Eagles took on a top Class 1 team from Viola, Ark. at Baptist Bible College in Springfield.
That squad included three players and the head coach from the Luna family that offered Hartville trouble last year as a part of Dora’s state championship team.
Piper made 7-of-8 free throws in the fourth quarter, including a pair in the final second to lift Hartville to a tough 62-58 victory to remain undefeated.
The Eagles led by three at the end of the first quarter as both Piper and Branstetter had seven points. In the second quarter, Piper scored another seven to help Hartville to maintain a three point halftime lead.
Hartville increased the lead to seven heading into the fourth.
The Longhorns cut the lead to one point early in the fourth, but were not unable to complete the comeback.
Piper finished the game with a game-high 27 points. Branstetter added 12; Ward scored 10; Mahan had eight points; Wilson had three points; and Cook scored two points.
The three Luna players combined to score 34 points for the Viola, Ark. Longhorns.
