The tumult of the 2020-2021 boys basketball season, through Covid stops and starts, with the highs of winning and disappointments in losses, came to an end Saturday night (March 6, 2021) in the Area I Consolation Championship of the Class 2A Boys Basketball Championship Series with the Hennessey Eagles (13-6, #6) losing to the Morrison Wildcats (20-5, #15) by a score of 45-38. The Eagles faced two of the state’s best defensive teams in their two Area games, and just could not match their opponent’s defensive intensity in their two weekend losses to end the season. Our Senior scorers just could not get into any rhythm, with none seeing double digits in scoring. Point Guard Wade Vinson scored 6 points, with 2 rebounds, and 2 assist. Chris Tovar had one 3-pointer to go along with 3 rebounds, and 1 steal. And the usually hot hand of outside shooter Juan Dominguez was cooled by the Wildcat D that held Juan to only 2 points, with 3 rebounds, and 2 steals. The bright spot for the Eagles was that they were led offensively by underclassmen. Junior Cristian Rodriguez scored 12 points, off 2 three’s, and a two, and was perfect from the free throw line, going 4 for 4. Freshman Jael Torres was the Eagle Player of the Game, perhaps Player of the Year, and most likely the Player of the Future. Torres scored 15 points, including a long-range 3, had 9 rebounds with 4 on the offensive end, to go along with 1 assist, 1 steal, and 3 blocked shots. After getting only 2 points on Friday night, the bench went scoreless on Saturday, but provided sparks defensively with Layton Choate pulling down 4 rebounds, with 2 steals, and 1 assist. Fellow sophomore Seth Simunek got 3 steals and 1 rebound, with Noah Moery rounding out the bench stats with 1 steal, as well. Playing on Saturday of the Area Tournament, even with it ending in a loss, is nothing for our Eagles to hang their heads about. 8 trips to Area in the past 10 seasons under Head Coach Brady Page has Hennessey Boys Basketball firmly planted as one of the very best programs, year in and year out, in the State of Oklahoma, regardless of Class. With 13 returning underclassmen, including 2 starters, one could expect another trip to Area, and quite likely a return to the State Fair Park Arena, next season, and the next, and the next,….As for our Seniors – Juan Dominguez, Christian Tovar, Wade Vinson, and Noah Moery – you have reached your “End of Watch.” You finished your 4 year Hennessey High School run with an 84-19 record, making it to Area all four seasons, including two appearances at State, and in this writer’s opinion, the 2019 Oklahoma Class 2A “Public School” State Champions. Hold your heads up high young men, for you are, and will forever be, Hennessey Eagles. -EagleVoice
