By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

JACKSONVILLE — Vincent High School boys’ basketball coach John Hadder delivered a message to his players in the sincerity of his summary of the Yellow Jackets’ 67-45 victory over North Sand Mountain in an Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 2A Northeast Region tournament semifinal contest Feb. 20 at Pete Mathews Coliseum on the Jacksonville State University campus.

Hadder believes the Yellow Jackets can do better.

After watching his squad hold a North Sand Mountain team that entered the region tournament with scoring totals of 83, 95 and 111 points in recent games to only 45 points, Hadder said Vincent still needed work on the defensive end of the floor.

“I’m obviously happy that we won,” Hadder said. “We’re a better defensive team than what we played tonight. The effort was there tonight, but we didn’t always defend smart.”

The Yellow Jackets will face AHSAA Class 2A, Area 10 rival Holy Family in the Class 2A Northeast Region championship game Feb. 23 at 10:40 a.m. in Jacksonville with a trip to the Class 2A Final Four riding on the outcome.

Vincent forced 22 turnovers by the Bison and turned the defensive pressure into 29 points off turnovers. The Yellow Jackets’ defensive performance certainly impressed North Sand Mountain coach Eddie Kirby.

“We hadn’t played anybody that fast this season,” Kirby said.

Dontravious Moon led the Yellow Jackets (25-6) with a game-high 28 points on 12-of-16 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range. Moon, who unexpectedly led Vincent in scoring in two region tournament games last season, said he worked more on getting to the rim in the semifinal contest.

“That’s my role,” Moon said. “I try to attack the basket. I know how important these games are.”