By JOSEPH W. GEX II/Sports Writer

Kiln —The Saint Stanislaus Rock-A-Chaws traveled slightly north up Highway 603 into the Kiln to take on the Hancock Hawks in boys basketball on Friday night. 

The Rocks and the Hawks traded shots at one another throughout the game but the Rocks put in the final basket to win a tight one 52-49 in the final 30 seconds of the game. 

The Hawks opened up the tight game with a shot from downtown Kiln by Jaxon Knight with 3:09 left in the first period to put Hancock up 8-5. 

Alan Gilliam answered for SSC with consecutive free throws that pushed the Rocks up 9-8 with 2:19 remaining in the opening period. 

Consecutive three-pointers by Kaison Koennen and Donte Taylor pushed Hancock to a 14-9 lead.

Carter Macias nailed two free shots for SSC (8-5, 1-0) to close the period with the score 14-11.

The Rocks regrouped in the second period and took the lead on an old fashioned three-point play by Macias with 2:56 left in the half to go up 19-17. 

SSC closed the period on a 9-2 run to close the period and give the Rocks a 28-22 lead at intermission.

In the third period, both teams matched each other basket-for-basket as the period closed with the Rocks ahead 42-39. 

In the fourth period, Hancock took a 45-44 lead on a basket by Taylor. However, the Rocks went on a 6-0 run that gave them a 50-46 lead that they would not relinquish. The final bucket came on a reverse layup by Gilliam to make the final score. 

SSC head coach Daniel Grieves stated, “Connor Entriken’s teams at Hancock are known for their tenacity on the defensive end and tonight was not an exception. With this being the rivalry game that it is, it does not matter who is up, it matters who makes plays at the end. Fortunately, we were the ones that made the final play at the end. We had a rough non-division schedule to help us get prepared for our division which was the best in basketball last season. We challenged our team at halftime and they responded to the challenge. I am proud of the effort tonight.”

The Rocks were paced by Gilliam with 23 points followed by Carter Macias with 12 points. 

Hancock head coach Connor Entriken stated, “I thought Saint Stanislaus played extremely hard tonight. We talk about competing and playing hard each and every day. Daniel Grieves’ team outplayed us and out-executed us in every aspect. We have a big ceiling and we have to find our identity as a team with the division schedule looming before us.”

The Hawks were paced by Malachi Lightell with 14 points followed by Kaison Koennen and Donte Taylor 9 points each.