Prep Basketball: Hawks slip past Hattiesburg to pull out rare state playoff win

Hancock’s Peyton Lee shields off a Hattiesburg defender as he pushes the ball up court Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director
KILN — It was a big night for prep basketball at Hancock High Friday night.
The home-standing Hawks slipped past Hattiesburg 57-54 for a rare state playoff win to cap off a sweep of the Hub City crew in the opening round of the Class 6A South State playoffs.
The Hancock boys overcame a slight 34-32 halftime deficit to pull out their first win over the Tigers in at least 12 years.

Hancock’s Kasion Koenenn looks for some working room vs. Hattiesburg Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Hancock’s Jaxson Knight moves the ball towards the basket vs. Hattiesburg Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Hancock’s Israel Makoka makes a move with the ball vs. Hattiesburg Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Hancock’s Jaxson Knight looks for his spot for a shot vs. Hattiesburg Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Maybe, more importantly, the Hawks move on the Class 6A South State quarterfinal round in Poplarville on the campus of Pearl River Community College Wednesday with a trip to the overall Final Four on the line. Hancock has won three of its past four games and now sits at 13-19 overall on the season.
Hawk versatile big man Jackson Knight, who is also a standout on the football field and the baseball diamond at Hancock High, picked the perfect time to enjoy one of the biggest games of his career on the hardwood Friday night as he tallied a game-high 23 points in the win.
Cody Barr chipped in 13 points to the winning effort, and Kaison Koennenn added 10 points for HHS in the historic win.

Hancock’s Kaison Koenenn defends as Hattiesburg’s Khmad Plump looks for some working room Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Hancock’s Jaxson Knight makes a pass to teammate Kaison Koennen vs. Hattiesburg Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Hancock’s Kaison Koennenn gets tangled up in the lane vs. Hattiesburg Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Hancock’s Jaxson Knight goes hard up to the hoop vs. Hattiesburg Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Koennenn, also the Class 6A Player of the Year in the state as a standout quarterback for the Hawks who guided Hancock to its first-ever road state playoff win on the gridiron in the Fall, scored eight of his points in the second half to help the home team overcome that halftime deficit.
Hattiesburg got 14 points from Zahir Mayfield and 13 points from Joseph Nichols. The Tigers end the season at 14-15 overall.
It was Hancock’s first win over Hattiesburg on the basketball court since Jan., 10th, 2014, snapping a seven game losing streak. The Tigers won a Class 5A state championship just three years ago.