By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
The Cougars stifled Northern Garrett with 18 perimeter shots pushing a 50-point lead entering the final stanza and cruised to an 89-41 victory on senior night in Baker.
East Hardy honored the seniors for boys basketball and cheerleading with a special ceremony: Evan Hamilton, Mason Hamilton, Joseph Price, Levi Price, Shayne Sisler, Adriana Gonzalez, Kayla Grandison and Danica Smith.
This East Hardy Boys Basketball senior quintet has been the most accomplished in program history with the most all-time wins with a record of 74-22 (and counting) and three straight state tournaments as regional champions.
Evan Hamilton scored a game-high 26 points for the Cougars, followed by Gideon Good with 19 points, Mason Hamilton 15 points and Aubrey McCullough 14.
The Hamilton twins corralled 12 out of the 18 trifectas, Evan nailed 7 and Mason hammered 5.
The remaining 3-pointes came from Nehemiah Graham (2), McCullough (2), Good (1) and Sisler (1).
Northern Garrett was paced by Jayden McNally with 24 points and Angelo Lacy with 10.
East Hardy (15-4) stomped over the Huskies in the first frame 28-9 en route to a 10th consecutive win.
The Cougars started the game with a carom collecting jumper by Gideon Good, then the Huskies responded with a 3-pointer by McNally for their only lead of the game at 7:29.
That lead was erased on a 3-pointer by Mason Hamilton within 22 seconds.
Northern Garrett tied the game on the ensuing series as Lacy hit a jumper at 6:53.
Good put the Cougars back on top at 6:28.
After a few misses, the net was found on the perimeter by Evan Hamilton, 10-5.
Good blocked a shot, then the Huskies hit iron twice before Ansen Miller scored on a putback.
Covering a span of 30 seconds, East Hardy made three steals with perimeter shots from the Hamilton twins and layup by Trevor Roof for a 20-7 lead.
A minute elapsed before a slam dunk by Good putting the Cougars up 22-7 with 1:37 left in the opening period.
The Huskies would add two free throws, but the Cougars created a block by Good with Evan Hamilton feeding Roof, then two steals for McCullough and Joseph Price resulted in their own baskets for a 28-9 advantage.
East Hardy’s defense was like a pesky pollen causing the Huskies to lose control of the ball and the Cougars kept scorching the nets for a 49-12 halftime lead.
The Huskies fumbled the ball twice to start the second period with Good making a layup and Evan Hamilton adding a trey.
The crowd went wild with each 3-pointer and berserk on a second dunk from Good grabbing a 36-9 lead.
During the final two minutes of the first half, Good netted a jumper, then the Huskies lost the ball out of play and McCullough scored off a rebound.
Shayne Sisler corralled a defensive carom and found McCullough for a 3-pointer and the 49-12 lead.
Good intercepted a pass, but the Cougars didn’t capitalize.
Two minutes into the second half, East Hardy was off to a 10-nil run commencing with a beyond-the-arc shot from Mason Hamilton.
Sisler swiped the ball and dished to Mason Hamilton, who found Good for a bucket inside.
Both teams hit the rim, then Sisler scorched a perimeter basket.
Mason Hamilton stole the ball and made the layup completing that run prior to two free throws by the Huskies.
East Hardy’s Mason Hamilton drilled a 3-pointer off an assist from his brother, but Northern Garrett answered with the same by Aiden Pickerel.
The Cougars recorded four trifectas over a three minute stretch by Good, McCullough and Evan Hamilton (2), while the Huskies countered from long distance by McNally and Lacy for aa 74-25 score.
McNally added a jumper with two minutes to go in the third frame, then both teams hit the rim thrice prior to a perimeter dagger by McCullough for a 77-27 50-point margin entering the final stanza.
Northern Garrett outscored the Cougars 14-12 in the last period.
The dozen markers by East Hardy all came from beyond the arc netted by Graham (2) and the Hamilton twins (one apiece).
McNally scored on an old-fashioned three-point play in a 9 point scoring effort in the fourth period.
East Hardy glided to the 89-41 win.
“[Seniors] I have all sorts of stories about these guys, but normally it is them making fun of me because of things I say. I think Evan and Mason come in every day wondering what kind of crazy thing I am going to say. This group is probably the winningest group of kids to ever come through East Hardy in a four year stretch. I know it has been the most successful stretch of my career having them here. They aren’t just good athletes, they are wonderful kids. That is probably why they are good athletes, because they do all the other things correctly. They work their tails off and all have great grades. They are super respectful, too. The things they do on the court is tremendous, but the things they do off the court impresses me and helps me to be a better coach. Their character and integrity speaks volumes,” East Hardy Boys Basketball coach Chris Hahn stated.
The Cougars kept the good vibes going with a Top-10 tilt against Clay-Battelle on the road and held a 10-point lead a couple times before staving pff a furious rally for a 49-47 victory.
East Hardy Boys Basketball:
Evan and Mason Hamilton, twin brothers, both plan to attend Potomac State College of WVU in Keyser and play baseball for Catamounts veteran skipper Doug Little.
The Hamiltons helped the Cougars win the Class A state baseball championship last season and have been key members of the Prime USA organization in Virginia, in addition to playing for the Bridgewater Reds of the Rockingham County Baseball League along with teammate Garrett Van Meter, EHHS alum Brett Tharp and Moorefield alum Isaac Van Meter.
The Hamiltons have made three consecutive Class A state basketball tournament appearances including a state semifinal finish last year, plus won multiple Class A state track and field medals in Charleston.
Both of these seniors have been named to all-conference and all-state basketball and baseball teams.
The Hamilton twins are members of the National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Joseph Price has been a member of three straight state basketball tournament Cougars teams.
Joseph is a member of the NHS, FCA, Spanish Club and Future Farmers of America.
Joseph plans to become a roofer and a great farmer.
Levi Price has shared his brother’s passion for basketball, in addition to becoming an elite football player and state champion baseball star.
Levi set the Cougars Football program record for receiving touchdowns in a single game and was the centerfielder for the 2025 Class A state baseball championship Cougars squad.
Price has been a part of the storied basketball team in Charleston.
Levi Price was named an all-state and all-conference representative during his career.
Levi plans to become a roofer, just like his brother and perhaps help with his brother’s barn roof.
Shayne Sisler has been a member of the state basketball team, golf team and last year’s pitcher in the Class A state baseball championship.
Sisler has been recognized for all-conference and all-state competition.
Sisler is a member of the FFA, FCA, Spanish Club and National Technical Honor Society.
Sisler is undecided about his future endeavors after high school, but remains focused on his current state basketball and baseball journeys.
East Hardy Cheer:
Adriana Gonzalez is a member of the cheerleading and softball teams.
Gonzalez is a member of the FFA and Spanish Club.
Gonzalez plans to study medicine to become a nurse.
Kayla Grandison is the Cougars Cheer captain and has eight seasons of cheerleading experience, in addition to being named most improved and collecting the leadership award during her high school career.
Grandison is a member of the FCA, Future Business Leaders of America and Skills USA.
Grandison plans to attend community college, work as a Certified Nursing Assistant and continue in the medical field along with traveling.
Danica Smith is a member of the NHS NTHS, Spanish Club, FCA, Gaming Club and Student Council.
Smith plans to become an art teacher.
East Hardy visits Pendleton County and Petersburg to close out the regular season this week.
