Highland 47, Horizon Science Academy 46
On the first night of Highland's Holiday Showcase, the Fighting Scots (3-6, 0-5) utilized a complete team effort to take a 47-46 win over the Horizon Science Academy Hawks (5-5, 0-1).
The game started off with both defenses not allowing a point until a two-pointer by Highland's Zachary Church broke the ice with 6:45 on the clock. Highland took the early 4-0 lead, with Kort Sears going coast to coast for a fast break lay-up following a steal with about six minutes left. Highland's Brock Church nailed a corner three to go up 7-2 with 5:30 left in the quarter. The strong defense also continued for Highland; Ranger Steck blocked a shot with 4:15 left, leading to a 10-2 lead for the Fighting Scots. Highland led 16-8 after one quarter.
Horizon battled back in the second quarter and took a 22-19 lead with approximately four minutes left. Gavin DeBord swatted a block for the Scots to keep it a three-point game with 3:53 left. Highland trailed by one point with 1:20 left and Gavin Toombs blocked a shot to keep it 26-25. The Fighting Scots took a 30-26 lead into the half.
Toombs blocked another shot with 5:07 left in the third quarter to keep it a 31-30 game in favor of Highland. Horizon took a 37-32 lead, but Steck made it a two-point game with a timely three as time was running out in the quarter.
Horizon was ahead 44-39 in the fourth quarter when Toombs drained a corner three to bring the Scots within two points. Toombs soared high with about 3:45 left for a big blocked shot to keep it a 45-44 game, and the Fighting Scots were able to hold on for a one-point win.
Highland hit only 29% of their shots and 18% from three but had a huge rebounding advantage, 56-33. They also were able to hold Horizon to 30% and 24% from three.
Nine Highland players scored in the game; Toombs and Brock Church led the charge with 11 points each. Dane Nauman scored seven, Steck had five points, Aron West scored four points, Zach Schmidt scored three points, and Kort Sears, Zach Church, and Blake Prior rounded out the scoring with two points each.
Delaware Hayes 64, Mount Vernon 56
Mount Vernon's Hudson Rohler was on fire on Tuesday night, but Mount Vernon took a 64-56 loss to the Pacers, thanks to a monster 28-point output in the third quarter by Delaware Hayes.
Mount Vernon was up 19-11 in the first quarter, but the Pacers whittled away at the score and made it 31-26 at the half. Delaware Hayes then went off for 28 points and held Mount Vernon to nine. Though the Yellow Jackets outscored the Pacers 16-10 in the final frame, the deficit was too much for the Jackets to overcome.
Rohler scored a season-high 29 points to lead the team in scoring; he is averaging approximately 20 points per game this season. Ben Bridges had 13 points and Trevor Buttke scored eight points.
"Tonight, we played a high-quality opponent on the road," Mount Vernon basketball coach Nick Coon said. "Delaware has a great player in Jesse Burris and a nice supporting cast. We played really well besides the third quarter. Against good teams, that can't happen for us, and expect to win. We can take a lot of positives from tonight. The road doesn't get any easier moving forward, so we know we will have to earn any wins."
Galion 63, Northmor 58
Northmor (4-4, 4-2) took on Galion (4-5, 2-3) on Tuesday night. While it was a tight game down the stretch, the Golden Knights were not able to claw their way back to victory in a 63-58 loss to the Tigers.
Down 8-2 in the first quarter, Northmor's Grant Bentley took the ball away from Galion for a steal. Shortly after, with the Knights trailing 10-4, Maxton Lower made it a three-point game on a make from downtown. Northmor found themselves down big early, trailing 23-10.
Galion had a 25-10 lead in the second quarter. They were threatening to score again when Drew Hammond showed great hustle to dive for a loose ball for a steal. The Tigers led 33-21 game at halftime. Bentley nailed a corner three to bring Northmor within 33-24 in the third quarter, then made it a 36-27 game on another three-pointer. With the game at 49-35, Bentley struck again for another three despite a defensive hand in his face.
Down 62-55 in the fourth quarter, Northmor's Jax Wenger hit a deep three from the top of the key to make it a four-point game, but Galion was able to hold on for a five-point win.
"An uncharacteristic slow start found us down 29-10 in the second quarter," Northmor basketball coach Blade Tackett said. "We battled back throughout the game to cut it to five in the fourth, but we couldn't bring it all the way back, as Cooper Kent from Galion was having an outstanding game."
Bentley continued to play well, leading the team with 21 points including three treys from downtown. He also made all six of his free throws. Bentley is third in KMAC in scoring at just over 17 points per game.
Lower hit double figures in scoring with 13 points. Hunter Fulk added seven points, going five-for-five from the free-throw line. Caleb Schnuerer had seven points, as well.
Northmor was out-shot 42% to 39% in the game, and turnovers were a major issue, as Galion had 12 steals compared to two for the Golden Knights. Northmor had a 37-33 rebounding advantage but trailed in assists, 16-13.
