Hillsboro ends Mules' season in district opener

FARMINGTON — The Poplar Bluff Mules boys basketball team could not dig out of a 12-point hole to start the fourth quarter as the Mules fell to the fourth-seeded Hillsboro Hawks 75-69 on Wednesday in the opening round of the Class 5 District 1 Tournament at Farmington High School.

Poplar Bluff, the district's No. 5 seed, ends its season with a record of 11-14.

The Hawks led just 10-9 after the opening period, but extended their lead to 27-19 by halftime, thanks in part to eight points in the quarter by Gunner Sutton. Hillsboro took a 54-42 lead to the final period.

The loss overshadowed a big game by Mules senior Brendan Durden, who scored a game-high 32 points in his final game — 28 of those in the second half and 17 in the third quarter as he fought to keep the Mules in the game. Durden also had seven rebounds.

Dallas Williams added 16 points in the loss, while Markell Heard and Jay Edmundson finished with six apiece.

Greg Robinson led Hillsboro with 17 points, while Karson Campbell had 16, Sutton added 15, Cooper McGrath chipped in 14 and Easton Day finished with seven. Robinson also had nine rebounds.

The Hawks outrebounded Poplar Bluff 40-25 in the game.

With the loss, the Mules say goodbye to four seniors — Durden, Edmundson, Micah Inscoe and Bryson Paukner — but can return the rest of its roster next season, including Williams, Heard and Sammy Durden.