Abingdon Senior Colby Hunt Continues Torrid Scoring Pace In Falcon Win

ABINGDON, Va. – It’s a sequence that has become familiar around the Southwest District.

Colby Hunt beats his defender with a quick first step, elevates quickly and sinks a pull-up jumper.

The 6-foot-1 Abingdon senior entered Saturday’s game against rival Patrick Henry on top of the SWD scoring charts averaging 20.1 points.
In typical fashion, Hunt added 24 more points in a 65-58 victory over PH.

“When I was little my dad always said that I had to get a jump shot,” Hunt said. “I worked and worked on it, and my coaches said it would pay off down the road.”

The road to stardom for Hunt began in the Eastern Kentucky community of Phelps, where his father Dale was a longtime coach at Phelps High School.
With his father offering constant guidance, Hunt honed his skills at the AAU level.

“My dad started coaching me around age six, and he still stays involved,” said Hunt, who moved to Abingdon in the sixth grade along with a couple current Abingdon athletes.

After PH took a 34-29 lead at the 6:38 mark of the third quarter, Abingdon (10-8) need a boost.
Shaking off various defenders, Hunt connected on four 3-point goals and scored on an equal number of drives.

“I don’t have the strength, so I have to make it up with quickness,” Hunt said. “At this point, I feel more comfortable shooting a jumper than spotting-up for a shot.”

As Hunt has compiled more points, opposing coaches have employed gimmick defenses.

“I’ve had a guy face-guarding me the last five or six games,” Hunt said. “It was frustrating at first, but we’ve gotten used to it now.”

Abingdon coach B.J. Lasley feels comfortable with the ball in Hunt’s hands.

“Colby does a good job, and I felt tonight was his most consistent effort,” Lasley said. “Colby has spent a lot of time on his game, and it shows.”

Six-foot-five senior Cole Manning added eight points for AHS.
Johnny Thompson paced PH with 18 points.

PATRICK HENRY (58) – McNew 2, Garrett 14, Groves 8, Thompson 18, Crisp 2, Smith 4, Rector 2, Darby 4, Dotson 4. Totals 23 11-20 58.
ABINGDON (65) – Carter 6, Viers 2, Overbay 4, N. Hess 8, Hunt 24, Barker 2, Manning 8, Funk 9, J. Hess 2. Totals 26 6-17 65.
Patrick Henry 12 16 12 18–58
Abingdon 17 12 16 20–65
3-point goals – PH 1 (Garrett), AHS 7 (Carter, Hunt 4, Funk). Total fouls-PH 19, AHS 19. Fouled out-Garrett.

GIRLS
Patrick Henry 37, Abingdon 32

PH coach Tommy Thomas admitted that he slept very little Saturday morning.

His team dropped an overtime decision to Hogoheegee District leader Northwood Friday after Panther star Kendra Nutter extended the game with a remarkable buzzer-beater at the end of regulation.

“That shot came from at least three steps from behind the 3-point line,” Thomas said. “We had led the entire game up until the point. A lot of my girls were really upset after that loss.”

After falling behind 16-10 Saturday, the Rebels (8-9) shook off the blues as Amy Montgomery provided the remedy.
The 5-foot-7 senior guard hit three straight 3-pointers to give her team a 27-22 lead after three quarters.

“The 3-point shot is my favorite, and tonight was probably my hottest streak,” Montgomery said.
“We had a real tough loss Friday. We talked about having fun before this game, and that put less stress on us.”

Thomas had fun watching Logan Moore deliver alert paces to the inside tandem of 5-9 Mary Sholes (10 points) and Candace Wilmoth (12 points).

No player reached double figures for AHS, now 6-10.

PATRICK HENRY (37) – Montgomery 11, Moore 2, Wilmoth 12, Weddle 1, Sholes 10, Thomas 1. Totals 12 10-14 37.
ABINGDON (32) – Pruitt 5, Mitchell 6, Tyler 6, Mullins 2, Hawsey 4, Stewart 2, Whitmore 6, Wilson 1. Totals 12 7-15 31.
Patrick Henry 4 8 15 10–37
Abingdon 5 13 4 10–32
3-point goals – PH 3(Montgomery), AHS 1 (Mitchell).

agregory@bristolnews.com|(276) 645-2544