Big first quarter leads to HHS win over LC

The Hillsboro Indians continue to add to their winning totals this season. On Saturday night, HHS got down to business early and took care of it, defeating Highland County counterpart Lynchburg-Clay, 87-56 at Hillsboro High School.

The difference of the game was evident in the first quarter. The Indians continued to take advantage of many scoring opportunities given to them, scoring 30 points in the first eight minutes. LC was coming off their first win the night before against Fayetteville.

In their last four games, all wins, the Indians are averaging 21.3 points in the first quarter. Against Madison-Plains, HHS scored 26 in the first quarter, followed with first-quarter scoring of 12 (WCH) and 17 (MT).

HHS (3-0, 4-2) not only controlled the first quarter, but the first half, leading 48-22 after 16 minutes. Their second-quarter scoring average the last four games is 17.6, after netting 18 in the second frame Saturday.

"We've done that (had big first quarters) a couple times now, and we contribute that to good penetration," HHS head coach Tim Davis said. "Our kids attack the basket hard, and that's going to create looks for our kids. We shoot a lot in practice, so I have all the confidence in the world when the hands and feet are ready, and they got a chance to catch and shoot."

Davis said he was proud of the way his team played, not only offensively, but defensively, too.

"I was extremely proud of the way we rebounded (Saturday). I thought Colt, Tyrand, Caleb and our guards all went after the ball extremely hard," he said. "I think that was a big difference … our energy level and going after rebounds."

But the first quarter started with juniors Devante Ames and Tyrand Cumberland putting HHS up 4-0. Senior Eli Hogsett added four more points later in the quarter to give HHS an 8-4 lead. 

After a 3-pointer by Wes Pierson of LC, Ames answered with one on the next scoring opportunity for the Indians, giving HHS a 13-7 advantage with 3:59 left in the first.

Cumberland and senior Aric Carroll added points for HHS, along with a jumper from Colt Coates, increasing the Indians' lead to 19-9.

The Indians had five players reach double figures. Leading the way was Coates with 19, followed with 15 from Hogestt, 12 from Ames, and 11 each by Carroll and Cumberland.

With 1:45 left in the opening frame, Ames, again, was reliable from beyond the arc, sinking his second 3-pointer of the quarter. HHS ended the first with 11 straight points for their 30-11 lead.

"I think Hillsboro just came out shooting the ball extremely well," LC head coach Jason McLaughlin said. "In the first quarter, we put ourselves in a big hole. We switched and played some man-to-man defense, but they still shot well."

HHS out-scored the Mustangs (1-2, 1-4) 18-11 in the second quarter, with their scoring starting on a free throw by Caleb Wilson.

LC broke what turned into 12 straight points by HHS with a jumper by senior Austin Fawley. Cumberland answered with a 3-pointer, followed with points from Carroll. 

At the 2:11 mark of the second, Coates buried a 3-point shot, putting the Tribe up 45-17. The final 1:18 of the first half had Dylan Noll scoring five points, including a 3-pointer, and Hillsboro's Christian Cundiff knocking down a 3-pointer.

"At halftime we talked about pushing the ball in transition, getting the ball up and down the court, and continuing to attack the basket," McLaughlin said. "I think we did a good job of that, but we didn't shoot the ball well. We had like 10 or 11 missed layups. Some of the guys are still learning how to play basketball at a fast pace."

Noll led all scorers with a game-high 22 points.

"Dylan was the only one who wanted to play with intensity, play with heart and play with pride," McLaughlin said. "No one else wanted to step up. We had a passive aggressive mentality, and Noll was the only one who wanted to play to win, and it showed."

Asked how his team continued to focus once the second half began, Davis said his team's main goal was not to lose the focus they had in the first two quarters.

"Our focus was (Noll) had a big first half against us, so we wanted to come out and key on him a little bit," Davis said about the post player who scored 13 of the 22 LC first half points. "We didn't do that the way we wanted to. The main thing wasn't to lose focus. If we can play that well in the first half, we can come out and play bad in the second half. We try to focus on keeping our intensity and our energy level up because Lynchburg-Clay plays extremely hard. We knew they weren't going to quit, and they are well coached."

In the third frame, HHS increased their lead to 51-22 with free throws by Carroll and Ames. 

Both teams scored at a quick pace, with junior Tyler Davidson nailing a 3-pointer with 3:02 left in the quarter. His trey was equaled by Carroll with 2:46 left in the same frame. 

Chase Gilliland put HHS up 63-38 with a free throw conversion, and with 1:15 remaining in the third Wilson scored points in the paint for HHS, along with the quarter's final basket (at the buzzer), putting HHS up 69-40.

The final eight minutes were full of free throws, but Hogsett and Fawley started the quarter with offsetting 3-pointers. Dallas Puckett sank two free throws for LC, but his points were answered with a bucket by Blake Brown of HHS.

Davidson sank his second 3-pointer, but Daniel Hicks answered with a three-point play with 1:48 left in the game. Ta Captain sank 1-of-2 from the free-throw line, and Brown scored the final HHS points of the non-league game.

"We are very deep. (Saturday) we played all 15 players, but in the first half we played eight or nine, keeping fresh legs," Davis said. "We pressed about three quarters, so we tried to keep the pressure on them as much as we could, offensively and defensively."

At the free-throw line, HHS was 10-of-17. HHS finished with nine 3-pointers.

Even with the big win, Davis said there is still work to be done.

"We have to get better on defense and rebounding," he said. "Defensively and rebounding, we have to get better at. We have to do a better job of our rotations when we help and make sure it's a focus we have five guys rebounding. Offensively, we still want to keep attacking."

HHS will play again on Wednesday against their Highland County rival McClain (0-4, 0-6) at MHS. LC plays Tuesday, at home, vs. Blanchester.