Hoke County’s first-year rugby team had an outstanding debut season, while two more spring sports teams found out their postseason fates as the NCHSAA released its brackets.
Rugby
The Hoke County Lady Bucks had an outstanding inaugural year. In their first year as a club team representing the school, the Lady Bucks won the tier 2 state championship. Hoke topped Cardinals Academy, 32-17, at Guilford College to take the title.
Softball
Hoke County fell in the first round of the Sandhills Conference Tournament, losing to Southern Lee, 12-1.
The Bucks were held to three hits—singles by juniors Bailey Mass and Brianna Harrell, and a double by freshman McKenzie Freeman, who also drove in the only run of the game for Hoke, plating freshman Niya Jones.
Now Hoke County heads to the NCHSAA playoffs after receiving a bid in the 4A bracket. The Bucks drew a No. 29 seed and will open with No. 4 seed Laney. Topping the Buccaneers will be a tall task as they enter with a 17-2 record and a Mideastern Conference title.
Baseball
Hoke County saw its season come to an end in the Sandhills Conference tournament when the Bucks lost to Richmond, 12-2. It was the ninth straight loss for Hoke, who finished the season with a 2-21 record. Hoke was left out of the playoffs when the NCHSAA released the brackets.
Girls’ Soccer
Hoke won just one of the final three games of the regular season last week. The Bucks were shut out in back-to-back games with Pinecrest, losing 2-0 at home and 4-0 on the road. Hoke then salvaged a win in the season finale with a 6-1 win over Scotland.
Hoke finished the regular season with a 5-12-3 record, 3-8-1 in the Sandhills. Hoke finished sixth in the conference, which earned them a conference tournament opening game with third-place Pinecrest, which will be the third game between the two teams in an eight-day span.
