Floydada post Hagen Hinsley the 'glue' in boys basketball win over Hale Center
HALE CENTER — Hagen Hinsley knows his importance to the Floydada boys basketball team.
Beyond battling on the boards, the senior feels his contributions begin before tipoff.
"I feel like based off how I play and how my attitude is is kind of how everyone else's is," Hinsley said. "If I have a good attitude and I'm hyped up and ready to go, everyone else is ready to go."
It's safe to say the Whirlwinds were ready Friday.
Hinsley posted a double-double and provided a veteran presence down the stretch to help No. 10 Floydada down Hale Center 79-73 on the Owls' home court. The Whirlwinds needed as much, playing the final 3 minutes, 55 seconds without top guards Tyrean Henderson and Braun Hobbs, who each fouled out.
Hinsley finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds as Floydada avenged a 65-60 district loss to Hale Center. The result kept the Winds in a first-place tie with Olton and pushed the Owls a game back with the regular season wrapping up Tuesday.
"I really think (Hinsley) is probably the glue for what we do," first-year Floydada coach Karson Hembree said. "When we make mistakes he's kind of there to get it all back together. He's done that for us all year long, so to see him step up in a big district game was huge."
Hinsley did so despite a 3-inch deficit to 6-foot-5 Owls post Brennyn Burtnett. Hinsley said he remains confident even when outsized, adding, "my team needs me, and I'm gonna be there for them."
The effort even caught the attention of Hale Center coach Brandon Castillo.
"He's tough. (Hinsley) does all the dirty work," Castillo said. "He doesn't complain. He plays hard. He plays his butt off, and he got after it tonight."
The Winds had plenty of others step up late as well. Sergio Valadez and Aiden Trevino manned the guard duties after Henderson and Hobbs exited with a combined 32 points. Valadez finished with a game-high 25 points, including seven after the foul-outs. That also thrust reserves into pressure situations as Floydada held on late.
"We know we're gonna be in tough spots in the (playoff) run," Hembree said, "and we know we've got to have guys step up in crucial moments, and we showed that tonight. I think we showed why we're a complete team right now."
DISTRICT 4-2A
Floydada 79, Hale Center 73
Floydada 15 15 24 25 — 79
Hale Center 17 13 20 23 — 73
Floydada (23-8, 11-2): Tyrean Henderson 15, Braun Hobbs 17, Aiden Trevino 5, Sergio Valadez 25, Hagen Hinsley 17.
Hale Center (21-9, 10-3): Carter Gonzales 4, Lionel Martinez 19, Aidan Baldridge 21, Javan Rumbaugh 3, Ryan Mesquite 11, D.J. Hinojosa 1, Kauner Cerbantez 7, Brennyn Burtnett 7.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Hagen Hinsley plays big in Floydada boys basketball win over Hale Center
