Senior Blackhawk Joey Hall was named Boys Player of the Year for Division II, All-NWADG Basketball. The 6'2" senior point guard led team to 32-3 record and Class 4A state runner-up finish and was named to all-state and all-state tourney teams after averaging 15 points, five rebounds and five assists per game.
Hall scored a team-high 16 points with four 3-pointers, including a buzzer-beater from 40-feet away at the end of the first quarter, during the state finals. He won regular season district, conference tournament and regional tournament titles, scored 31 points, including a 4-point play in the finals and was named MVP of the Southwest Holiday Classic in Washburn, Mo. Hall was named All-NWADG Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore. His career high school record is 73-18.
As an eighth grader, Hall recalls being laughed at by his brother, Jacob, and a friend when he proclaimed he would one day play for a state championship.
"I'll always remember getting to play with all my friends, literally since basketball started for me and then ending it with them, and then getting to play with one of my other friends who moved in from a different school for my senior year. And also to have a coach, who's not only been a coach, but a friend since the seventh grade, will be something I'll never forget," Hall said.
"It hurts not winning the state championship. Obviously, that's what you work for and that's what you go for, but at the same time, we had nothing to look down on because we had such a great year. We made history. We got to the state championship. I don't want to make it sound like we were satisfied with that, but then again, you can't go back in time and win the game, so I just try to focus on more of the good of the season, rather than the bad."
Sports on 03/29/2017