Southern Boone Edges Hallsville in Boys Basketball Thriller

Last-second free throws lift Eagles to 46-44 Tri-County Conference victory

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a close Tri-County Conference boys basketball matchup, the Southern Boone Eagles edged the Hallsville Indians 46-44 on Friday night. Chase Rackers led the way for Southern Boone with 26 points, including two crucial free throws in the final seconds to secure the victory.

Why it matters

This win keeps Southern Boone, ranked 10th in Class 4, undefeated in conference play and maintains their position as a top team in the region. Hallsville, receiving votes in the Class 4 state rankings, suffered their third conference loss of the season.

The details

The game was tightly contested throughout, with Southern Boone leading 14-12 after the first quarter before Hallsville took a 26-23 halftime advantage. The Indians maintained a 39-38 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but Rackers and the Eagles were able to pull out the victory in the final seconds.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • Rackers made the game-winning free throws with 1.4 seconds remaining.

The players

Chase Rackers

The leading scorer for Southern Boone, pouring in 26 points including the decisive free throws in the final seconds.

Southern Boone Eagles

The 10th-ranked team in Class 4, now 17-4 overall and 3-0 in Tri-County Conference play.

Hallsville Indians

The Class 4 team receiving votes in the state rankings, now 14-8 overall and 2-3 in conference play.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This was a huge win for us against a very good Hallsville team. The boys really battled and I'm proud of their effort tonight.”

— Head Coach (newstribune.com)

What’s next

Southern Boone will host Fatima on Tuesday for Senior Night, while Hallsville will look to bounce back in their next conference matchup.

The takeaway

This close conference clash showcased the competitiveness of the Tri-County boys basketball landscape, with Southern Boone narrowly edging out Hallsville in a game that came down to the final seconds.