The Hoke County sports season began last week, with several of the Bucks teams beginning action.
Boys’ soccer
The Bucks boys’ soccer team got off on a winning foot, shutting out East Bladen, 3-0, in the season opener. It’s the seventh season in a row that Hoke County has won its opening game.
Sophomore Derrick Patricio, senior Jose Vazquez De La Cruz and senior Marconi Steele scored goals for the Bucks, while sophomore Joas Hernandez added an assist. Goalkeepers Larry Ariza Diaz, Brentley Blumer and Marcus Monsanto combined for the shutout.
The Bucks have a busy week, with five games in seven days. They hosted Terry Sanford on Tuesday, after press time, then finished their homestand with a Thursday game against South View. Hoke then travels to Clayton and Red Springs before returning home to face Lumberton.
Volleyball
The Bucks won their first two games of the season, sweeping St. Pauls, 3-0 (25-7, 25-6 and 25-8), then beating E.E. Smith, 3-1 (21-25, 25-13, 25-12 and 25-9). It’s the first time the Bucks won their opener since 2021, and the first 2-0 start to a volleyball season at Hoke since 2015.
Senior Kayeliana Bonner led the way in the opener with 8 kills. Senior Abigail Watts had a team-high 6 service aces and the only blocked shot of the night for the Bucks. Junior Aubrey Carpenter had 11 digs in the win.
Hoke hopes to keep the winning streak going on the road with games at Red Springs, E.E. Smith, St. Pauls and Scotland still on the agenda for the week.
Football
The Bucks open their regular season this week with a home game against Jack Britt at 7:30 PM, Friday. Last Friday, Hoke County had a tune-up, traveling to Gray’s Creek for the Cumberland County Jamboree.
