College Heights boys basketball extended a first-half lead to double digits in the third quarter and pulled away down the stretch for a 45-27 Senior Night win over Diamond on Tuesday.
“It was a good win,” College Heights coach Eric Johnson said. “It was a hard-fought game. We didn’t get off to a good start. They hit some 3s before we tightened up our defense on the outside and made them force shots they didn’t want to. I wasn’t real pleased with our execution on offense, but we found ways to score in the second half.”
SENIOR NIGHT
College Heights honored Evan Burton and Nathan Williams before the game during Senior Night ceremonies.
“Evan Burton has been with us for four years,” Johnson said. “He has been there for us and is a solid leader and player. This is his first year getting some varsity time, and he has stepped up and done a good job for us. This is Nathan’s first year playing, but we are happy to have him.”
SCORING LEADERS
Miller Long led College Heights with a game-high 17 points, while Curtis Davenport finished with nine. Ethan Meeks and Hagen Beck each added six points in the win.
Hunter Shallenburger led Diamond with 11 points and Tyler Daniels finished with eight.
GAME NOTES
The Cougars (5-5) earned their second win in as many nights thanks in large to the defensive effort shown in the second quarter. Trailing 10-7 after the first quarter, CHC limited the Wildcats to just three free throws in the second quarter, allowing the offense to build a 19-13 advantage by halftime.
“That was important because they hit three 3s in the first quarter,” Johnson said. “We got out on the shooters and made them put the ball on the floor. Inside, we had some height advantage and that was able to help there.”
College Heights started the second quarter on a 6-0 run courtesy of Long, who led the team with eight points in the period. Long knocked down two free throws and added two put-back scores following offensive rebounds to give CHC a 13-10 lead with 3:40 to play. Beck added four points down the stretch to go along with another Long basket to finish out the quarter with a six-point lead.
“He was able to get to the basket and make some shots,” Johnson said of Long’s play in the second period. “They weren’t going to let him sit out there and shoot, so he took the ball to the basket. He is pretty good about finishing around the rim.”
College Heights methodically pushed the lead to 28-10 to start the final period of play before scoring the first two baskets in the fourth on inside scores from Meeks and Davenport to make the score 32-18.
A 3-pointer from Shallenburger near the midway point of the fourth quarter trimmed College Heights’ lead to 36-24, but the Cougars pulled away with a 9-3 run to close out the win. Williams led the surge with four points.
UP NEXT
College Heights is at Exeter on Friday.
