01/07/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
JOHNSTON CITY - It has been an interesting season for Johnston City so far in 2022-23 and it is clear that they're better than their record.

Four of the teams' six losses were by single digits and Coach Burzynski has seen signs of how good the Indians can be.

His club put it all together in a dominating second half on Saturday afternoon.

Breaking a 25-25 halftime tie, the Indians out-gunned Christopher 37-19 in the final two quarters for a 62-44 Black Diamond Conference West Division win at Wendell Starrick Gym.

Six-eight senior forward Laith Hoxworth muscled his way for 20 points on Saturday to lead the now 9-6 Tribe.

Johnston City sits in second place in the league behind Vienna with a 4-1 mark.

Connor Mowery, a 6-0 senior, added 14 points for JC in the victory while junior guard A.J. Butler added 10, including three 3-pointers, two in the third quarter to help put away the visiting Bearcats.

Six-five junior Keaton Fort helped out with eight points on the inside.

Logan Hunter, a 6-4 senior, added six first half points while 5-8 senior Kaden Dover added four points in the second half.

“We were better defensively and we did a better job on our ball movement in the second half. The guys did a good job being patient and getting a good shot,” said Coach Burzynski. “Defensively we try to put our guys in position to use our length and take passing lanes away.”

Coach Eric Stallman sees improvement from his club even in defeat.

Scout Hudgens, a junior forward, paced Christopher with 18 as the squad fell to 0-3 in the division, 5-9 overall.

Senior Trey Cole added 13 while senior Brett Janello added six, sophomore Carson Hobbs contributed five and sophomore Chase Freeman two points in the loss.

Johnston City opened up the game with baskets by Hunter and Hoxworth.

Mowery added a drive down the baseline for a score and a 12-4 advantage.

The Bearcats quickly rallied.

Cole scored six points in the first quarter on two conventional three-point plays.

Three-point shots from Hudgens and Janello closed the gap to 16-15 at the end of the opening quarter.

Hudgens scored to open the second quarter for the first Christopher lead, on a shot from near the top of the circle.

Hunter added more points for JC with a couple of mid-range shots and Hoxworth got an assist from Butler for more inside scoring.

Butler, who had missed a couple of shots from the outside, nailed his first 3-pointer from the right wing as the two clubs were even at the break.

After missing their first eight 3-point attempts, Butler connected for JC.

Mowery (1) and Butler (2) hit 3-point shots in the third quarter.

Butler's second trey and a fast break score off of an inbounds steal by Hoxworth closed the third quarter at 44-35 Indians.

“We were trying to pack it so tight (zone inside) because we don't have an answer for Hoxworth inside and we knew shooters would be open,” said Coach Stallman. “In the first half they didn't hit those shots but in the second half they got going. We normally play man-to-man and this was the first night we played zone. We just don't have much of an answer for Hoxworth.”

Johnston City put the Bearcats away with a 7-0 run to open the final frame.

Mowery again penetrated the Bearcats zone defense on a baseline drive and Hoxworth scored on a rebound basket.

An additional bucket by Mowery made it 51-35 with 4:10 left.

Hoxworth later added the best move of the game.

Taking an inbounds pass near the basket, the 6-8 senior made a spin move and delivered a two-handed dunk.

“He (Hoxworth) is right at a double-double average for the year (points and rebounds). We want him to be more assertive. He is so effective rebounding offensively and that is one thing he has really improved on,” said Coach Burzynski.

The Indians added free throws by Mowery and Butler in the final minutes along with another second chance score from Hoxworth before both coaches went to the reserves to close out the final moments of the Johnston City victory.

Coach Burzynski's team hit 25-of-45 from the floor, and after being cold early from long range the Indians hit 4-of-7 from the arc in the second half.

Another key to the victory was rebounding as JC held a 23-15 advantage and allowed only one offensive rebound to Christopher.

Coach Stallman's club ended up 15-of-34 from the floor, 3-of-8 from the arc.

They kept pace and stayed in the game for a half by hitting 11-of-14 free throws in the game.

The Bearcats turned it over nine times compared to just four for the host.

Christopher will host both Zeigler-Royalton and Goreville next week in BDC play while the Indians will have games with Webber Township and Trico before hosting their own Arrowhead Classic the following week.

Christopher and JC will hook up again in the tournament on Monday, January 16.

“We have young kids and we're getting better and we just need to keep getting better,” said Coach Stallman.