Houston County Bears are back in 6A state playoffs and they took the long, tough road to get there

The Houston County Bears are back in the Georgia High School Association 6A state playoffs. After a rough start to the 2019-20 campaign, the Bears (12-11 overall, 4-5 in Region 1-6A) fought back to win four of their last five region games, including a region tournament play-in game against the Northside Eagles, 58-54, Tuesday. 

The Eagles led by two points after the first quarter, but the Bears clawed back to take a small lead in the second quarter and would lead for the remainder of what was a close game throughout. The two teams had split their regular season series. The loss eliminated the Eagles from the regional tournament and from state playoff contention. The Bears on the other hand, play on. Next Stop: Friday at the Valdosta in the Region 1-6A tournament. “To qualify for the 6A state tournament after our rocky start is the definition of our team’s resilience and perseverance,” said Bears head coach Don Hudson. 

During that recent win streak the Bears have a 65-64 victory at Valdosta at the forefront. The game went down to a final possession and a near-half court shot by junior guard HB Morgan. The video of Morgan’s shot – a shot that basically saved the Bears season- has made the rounds on social media. The positive energy from the victory has continued to affect the program, and Morgan’s play, in big ways. “We played one of the most difficult schedules in the state,” Hudson said. “With that, we grew leaps and bounds as individual players, a staff, and as a team. Those close games and tough opponents made us the contenders we are.”

The current three-game win streak -Houston County has won games over Valdosta, Northside and a regular season finale over Perry 67-55 on Saturday, Feb. 1- have the momentum on the side of the lower-seeded Bears in their region tournament semifinal against Valdosta where the Tigers are 6-1 at home this season. “We are not the team people want to see when they see a 12-11 overall record,” said Hudson. “If you just see that and not who we really are, you will be sadly mistaken. We are much better than our record.”

The game has no bearing on the Bears playoffs hopes, win or lose they are back in the state playoffs. Still, the way they have played of late, there’s a strong chance they can find a way to keep the wind coming, even at Valdosta during the region tournament. “It’s very difficult to beat a good team period,” says Hudson of the Valdosta Tigers. “The fact that they are number two in the state, have a 23-3 record, were [Region 1-6A] regular season champs, and are well coached makes them very tough.” 

A victory for the Bears would mean beating Valdosta twice in a week. “To do it twice in their home gym will be difficult, but that is the case at the home gym of any team in our region,” said Hudson. “It will be an amazing night of basketball and we will attack it like we do any game because it is the next game.”