Mustangs win over Lions for homecoming crowd
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
DODSONVILLE — Friday night was all about the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs. LC hosted its 2012 homecoming, honored a new king and queen, blocked many shots, and in the end, the night was wrapped up with a 68-52 Southern Hills League win over the visiting Fairfield Lions.
In front of the new queen Marissa Ayres and king Bronson Allen, the Mustangs took away any offensive or defensive scheme the Lions wanted to bring, with Ryan Inman leading all scorers with a game-high 24 points and earning a double-double with 12 rebounds. He also added four blocked shots.
LC head coach Jason McLaughlin spoke about a conversation he had with Inman earlier this season.
"Ryan played with so much energy," LC head coach Jason McLaughlin said. "We had a talk a couple games ago after a couple bad games, and I just told him 'if you want to, you can go out there and be a really good ballplayer. I want you to get 10 to 15 shots a night,' and he's working for it.
"He gets the credit for his improvement because he's working, he's back-cutting on the defensive glass, and we found him when he was open (Friday)."
LC (4-6, 8-8) also had help from Alec Smith, who not only added four points on the offensive side but controlled the game defensively with a team-high seven blocked shots.
The loss drops FHS to 8-8 overall, 6-5 in the SHL.
"Alec, defensively he gets in there and he battles," McLaughlin said. "He was there in the lane, ready to help out. Both those guys helped a great deal."
Smith also added five rebounds to his night as the Mustangs used their height advantage to create mismatches in the paint with LC gaining a total of 26 rebounds.
"I think we were pressing offensively from the beginning because more so than their defense, they (LC) are such a disciplined, patient offensive team," FHS head coach Matt Carson said. "They didn't take many bad shots tonight, and that worried me going into this game.
"I'll give them credit … they executed almost flawlessly."
The second-highest scorer on the night for the Mustangs was Gage Waits with 16 points. He added four rebounds and two assists to his totals.
Overall, it was a great night for any fan of the Mustangs.
LC set the pace for the game in the opening quarter with a 16-7 outburst against the Lions. LC scored the first four points with buckets by Tyler Davidson (15 points, six assists, four rebounds) and Waits. FHS scored with a jumper by Austin Hildebrant, but it was Waits who put LC back ahead by four points with a layup at the 5:01 mark of the first.
Fairfield junior Quentin Williams knocked down a 3-pointer, but following the trey, LC ended the first with a 10-2 run in the quarter's final 2:36 for a nine-point lead at 16-7.
The aforementioned run occurred with six consecutive points by Davidson, including a 3-pointer and a three-point play. Inman followed with a layup, and the quarter ended with more points by Inman on a put-back with 1:03 left in the quarter.
LC opened the second frame with points by Wes Pierson, and following two blocked shots in a span of 17 seconds by Smith, it was the Lions who overcame those woes with two free throws by Putnam, a fast break layup by Blake Hildebrant and a layup from Brad Clay, who caught the basketball on a near full-court throw from Clay. All of that scoring brought FHS within six points of tying the game at 18-13.
Without Pierson in the lineup, the Mustangs struggled at times, but since his return, things are back to normal, as for the flow of the Mustang attack.
"What Wes brings to the table is someone who can score offensively," McLaughlin said. "He didn't score for us tonight, but what he does is he's really a great defender. He was on one of the better Fairfield players and shut him down.
"Wes is one of our better on-ball defenders. He's always contesting the shot, and that's the difference he gives us."
The Mustangs weren't rattled, as they responded with a layup by Inman, a 3-pointer from Waits and following the third blocked shot of the quarter by Smith, a put-back bucket by Waits with 3:28 left in the half.
[[In-content Ad]]After each team continued to make baskets, LC ended up with an 11-point lead after 16 minutes of play at 34-23.
By the end of the third quarter, LC led 46-29, outscoring the Lions 12-6. FHS was unable to cut the deficit any lower than 11 points in the third as four LC players combined for the 12 points in the frame. Inman added six points in the third, while Austin Gorman, Waits and Jacob Skaggs each scored two points in the third.
With the game well in hand by the time the fourth frame rolled around, LC was outscored in the quarter 23-22.
Quentin Williams, Austin May, Blake Hildebrant, Gage Montgomery and Elijah Carmean all scored points for FHS in the fourth. May ended the fourth and game with seven points, while Williams finished with eight points on the night.
"I wish I had an answer for why we played like we did (Friday)," Carson said. "No matter what we could have or did try, it wouldn't have mattered," Carson said. "When you don't have the will to want to sit down and guard somebody, this is what happens.
"It's not just that … when the other team you are playing executes a game plan to a tee like they (LC) did … this is what happens."
For LC in the fourth, Inman broke loose with nine points, while Waits scored five (including a 3-pointer). Tyler Allen nailed a 3-pointer right in front of the LC student section, and Smith scored two points.
LC will play again on Tuesday when they host Highland County counterpart Hillsboro.
FHS plays again on Saturday as they travel to face the Adena Warriors in non-league play.
In JV play, FHS defeated LC 53-23 with Tyler Simms leading FHS with 15 points and Cody Bennett with 13. For LC, Ethan Simmons, Chaz Lanier and Jordan Wilt each scored four points.
In the freshman game, FHS won 47-30. Dustin Willey led FHS with 24 points, and LC was led by Brady Smith with 12.
BOX SCORE
SCORE BY QUARTERS
FHS 07 16 06 23 — 52
LC 16 18 12 22 — 68
INDIVIDUAL STATS
LC (68)
J.Skaggs 1 (0) 0-0 2
G.Waits 4 (2) 2-2 16
A.Gorman 1 (0) 0-0 2
T.Davidson 5 (1) 2-2 15
R.Inman 11 (0) 2-3 24
T.Allen 0 (1) 0-0 3
W.Pierson 1 (0) 0-0 2
A.Smith 2 (0) 0-0 4
TOTALS: 25 (4) 6-7 68
FHS (52)
Q.Williams 1 (1) 3-4 8
A.May 1 (1) 2-2 7
B.Hildebrant 6 (0) 0-0 12
G.Montgomery 4 (0) 1-2 9
E.Carmean 1 (0) 0-0 2
B.Clay 1 (0) 0-0 2
A.Hildebrant 2 (0) 0-0 4
W.Willey 1 (0) 0-0 2
C.Putnam 0 (0) 4-4 4
R.Bates 1 (0) 0-0 2
TOTALS: 18 (2) 10-12 52
In front of the new queen Marissa Ayres and king Bronson Allen, the Mustangs took away any offensive or defensive scheme the Lions wanted to bring, with Ryan Inman leading all scorers with a game-high 24 points and earning a double-double with 12 rebounds. He also added four blocked shots.
LC head coach Jason McLaughlin spoke about a conversation he had with Inman earlier this season.
"Ryan played with so much energy," LC head coach Jason McLaughlin said. "We had a talk a couple games ago after a couple bad games, and I just told him 'if you want to, you can go out there and be a really good ballplayer. I want you to get 10 to 15 shots a night,' and he's working for it.
"He gets the credit for his improvement because he's working, he's back-cutting on the defensive glass, and we found him when he was open (Friday)."
LC (4-6, 8-8) also had help from Alec Smith, who not only added four points on the offensive side but controlled the game defensively with a team-high seven blocked shots.
The loss drops FHS to 8-8 overall, 6-5 in the SHL.
"Alec, defensively he gets in there and he battles," McLaughlin said. "He was there in the lane, ready to help out. Both those guys helped a great deal."
Smith also added five rebounds to his night as the Mustangs used their height advantage to create mismatches in the paint with LC gaining a total of 26 rebounds.
"I think we were pressing offensively from the beginning because more so than their defense, they (LC) are such a disciplined, patient offensive team," FHS head coach Matt Carson said. "They didn't take many bad shots tonight, and that worried me going into this game.
"I'll give them credit … they executed almost flawlessly."
The second-highest scorer on the night for the Mustangs was Gage Waits with 16 points. He added four rebounds and two assists to his totals.
Overall, it was a great night for any fan of the Mustangs.
LC set the pace for the game in the opening quarter with a 16-7 outburst against the Lions. LC scored the first four points with buckets by Tyler Davidson (15 points, six assists, four rebounds) and Waits. FHS scored with a jumper by Austin Hildebrant, but it was Waits who put LC back ahead by four points with a layup at the 5:01 mark of the first.
Fairfield junior Quentin Williams knocked down a 3-pointer, but following the trey, LC ended the first with a 10-2 run in the quarter's final 2:36 for a nine-point lead at 16-7.
The aforementioned run occurred with six consecutive points by Davidson, including a 3-pointer and a three-point play. Inman followed with a layup, and the quarter ended with more points by Inman on a put-back with 1:03 left in the quarter.
LC opened the second frame with points by Wes Pierson, and following two blocked shots in a span of 17 seconds by Smith, it was the Lions who overcame those woes with two free throws by Putnam, a fast break layup by Blake Hildebrant and a layup from Brad Clay, who caught the basketball on a near full-court throw from Clay. All of that scoring brought FHS within six points of tying the game at 18-13.
Without Pierson in the lineup, the Mustangs struggled at times, but since his return, things are back to normal, as for the flow of the Mustang attack.
"What Wes brings to the table is someone who can score offensively," McLaughlin said. "He didn't score for us tonight, but what he does is he's really a great defender. He was on one of the better Fairfield players and shut him down.
"Wes is one of our better on-ball defenders. He's always contesting the shot, and that's the difference he gives us."
The Mustangs weren't rattled, as they responded with a layup by Inman, a 3-pointer from Waits and following the third blocked shot of the quarter by Smith, a put-back bucket by Waits with 3:28 left in the half.
[[In-content Ad]]After each team continued to make baskets, LC ended up with an 11-point lead after 16 minutes of play at 34-23.
By the end of the third quarter, LC led 46-29, outscoring the Lions 12-6. FHS was unable to cut the deficit any lower than 11 points in the third as four LC players combined for the 12 points in the frame. Inman added six points in the third, while Austin Gorman, Waits and Jacob Skaggs each scored two points in the third.
With the game well in hand by the time the fourth frame rolled around, LC was outscored in the quarter 23-22.
Quentin Williams, Austin May, Blake Hildebrant, Gage Montgomery and Elijah Carmean all scored points for FHS in the fourth. May ended the fourth and game with seven points, while Williams finished with eight points on the night.
"I wish I had an answer for why we played like we did (Friday)," Carson said. "No matter what we could have or did try, it wouldn't have mattered," Carson said. "When you don't have the will to want to sit down and guard somebody, this is what happens.
"It's not just that … when the other team you are playing executes a game plan to a tee like they (LC) did … this is what happens."
For LC in the fourth, Inman broke loose with nine points, while Waits scored five (including a 3-pointer). Tyler Allen nailed a 3-pointer right in front of the LC student section, and Smith scored two points.
LC will play again on Tuesday when they host Highland County counterpart Hillsboro.
FHS plays again on Saturday as they travel to face the Adena Warriors in non-league play.
In JV play, FHS defeated LC 53-23 with Tyler Simms leading FHS with 15 points and Cody Bennett with 13. For LC, Ethan Simmons, Chaz Lanier and Jordan Wilt each scored four points.
In the freshman game, FHS won 47-30. Dustin Willey led FHS with 24 points, and LC was led by Brady Smith with 12.
BOX SCORE
SCORE BY QUARTERS
FHS 07 16 06 23 — 52
LC 16 18 12 22 — 68
INDIVIDUAL STATS
LC (68)
J.Skaggs 1 (0) 0-0 2
G.Waits 4 (2) 2-2 16
A.Gorman 1 (0) 0-0 2
T.Davidson 5 (1) 2-2 15
R.Inman 11 (0) 2-3 24
T.Allen 0 (1) 0-0 3
W.Pierson 1 (0) 0-0 2
A.Smith 2 (0) 0-0 4
TOTALS: 25 (4) 6-7 68
FHS (52)
Q.Williams 1 (1) 3-4 8
A.May 1 (1) 2-2 7
B.Hildebrant 6 (0) 0-0 12
G.Montgomery 4 (0) 1-2 9
E.Carmean 1 (0) 0-0 2
B.Clay 1 (0) 0-0 2
A.Hildebrant 2 (0) 0-0 4
W.Willey 1 (0) 0-0 2
C.Putnam 0 (0) 4-4 4
R.Bates 1 (0) 0-0 2
TOTALS: 18 (2) 10-12 52