12-09-16
BY JACK BULLOCK
WAYNE CITY – Coming off of a tough conference road loss less than 24-hours earlier against rival Olney Richland, head coach Bryan Havill wanted his Red Hill team to forget about the loss and concentrate on the game against Crab Orchard at the Wayne City Holiday Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

Although the offense of the Salukis seemed out of focus in the early going against the Trojans, the Red Hill defense was crystal clear in its approach.

Holding the Trojans to just 14-of-48 shooting while forcing them into 14-turnovers, Red Hill took command in the first quarter and never let up in a 72-40 triumph.

The Salukis improved to 4-4 on the season with the win and are 1-0 in Pool B after the first day of the 64th annual event.

Even though Red Hill missed several early shots, including five free throws in the first quarter, they managed an early run that got them separation.

When the offense finally caught up to what the defense had started, the Salukis pulled away for the win.

Red Hill, part of the Little Illini Conference with 17 of the basketball kids in the program part of the IHSA 1A playoff team this season, was a physical problem for Crab Orchard.

The Salukis held a 41-31 rebounding edge, which included 14-offensive rebounds.

“I think when that game was over (last night) we were ready to be in Wayne City today. We wanted to rid ourselves of that game and get here and compete,” said Coach Havill. “We aren't going to be content and win one or two games. We are going to try and run the table and I know it will get more difficult later on.”

Coach Jon Brown saw his Trojans fall to 7-3 overall and 0-1 in Pool B.

Red Hill put two players in double-figures in the contest.

Five-foot-eleven junior guard Drew Moore also started slow but he and his teammates picked it up from middle of the first quarter on.

Moore led all scorers with 20-points while senior classmate Corbin Shoulders tossed in 14.

Moore connected three times from the 3-point arc as the Salukis ended up 5-of-12 from long range, and 29-of-66 overall.

Seven other Red Hill players put up points in the triumph.

Six-foot-three senior Andy Wells added eight-points while Parker Havill chipped in seven.

Six-foot-four senior Mitchell Nash and 5-foot-11 junior Cade Benson also added six-points each.

“I thought our defense was good. Their (Crab Orchard) attack is to try and get to the basket and then try and kick it out. I think the kids neutralized that pretty well today,” said Coach Havill.

Crab Orchard put a pair of players in double-figures in scoring with 12-points coming from sophomore Hunter Throgmorton and 10-points from freshman Kegan Peek.

Offensively the Salukis slow start would have been troublesome had Crab Orchard been able to capitalize on the issue.

Crab Orchard trailed just 5-3 early in the first quarter when Red Hill put together its first big run.

Nine-consecutive points from Moore, Nash and Shoulders gave Red Hill its first substantial scoring burst.

Nash scored twice inside and Moore turned a Trojans' miscue into a fast break score for a three-point play.

Moments later, Moore made the steal and fed Shoulders for a transition basket.

Nash's second bucket in the run made it 14-3 Red Hill.

Crab Orchard responded with a couple of scores by Throgmorton and freshman Quentin Meyers to close out the frame at 17-7 Salukis.

The Trojans are a young team with only two seniors and a junior on the squad with the rest being sophomores and freshmen and it showed at times today against a veteran group.

“Their size and strength inside really hurt us today and they did a good job of getting out and guarding us,” said Coach Brown. “When we did attack the basket they would get a body on us and we had a hard time finishing.”

Coach Havill's team put together another big run in the second quarter to expand the advantage.

A 12-1 run, with the same players cashing in their chips, put the Salukis up 35-14 with 2:17 left before the half.

Wells scored on a lob pass from Havill to begin the run and Moore canned his first 3-pointer of the afternoon.

Shoulders scored on another fast break and then added a pair of free throws to close the scoring blitz.

Crab Orchard did get a couple of baskets before intermission, with Peek grabbing a rebound for a bucket and senior guard Cameron Stephens hitting his only 3-pointer of the game to make it 37-21 at the break.

Red Hill was more efficient in the third quarter from the floor (8-of-15) as they put the game on ice by the end of the stanza.

Moore hit his next two long range shots while adding another transition score.

Wells also contributed two more baskets and Shoulders chipped in another fast break chance.

When Moore closed the book on the third quarter with his final points, Red Hill led 57-34.

“We try to spread teams out and use our guards. Our bigs and our weak side help did a good job on the offensive glass. The kids responded today after a difficult loss last night,” said Coach Havill.

Both coaches used reserves to play out the final eight minutes.

“We never got on track offensively and defensively we had a hard time guarding them, especially around the basket,” said Coach Brown. “But we came out (in the third quarter) with some energy and hit a few shots.”

A normally good 3-point shooting team, the Trojans were just 2-of-19 from the arc.

Crab Orchard will play again on Monday night, taking on Grayville at 5:30 while Red Hill will play again on Wednesday night, also against Grayville.

Coach Jeff Morris got scoring from eight different players in the rout, as Wayne City led 51-12 at halftime.

Six-foot-one junior Dalton Smith netted 14-points for the Indians.

Junior guard Jayzale O'Neal added 11-points for the Tribe while senior Remmington Henson added 10-points.

Senior Jaxon King tossed in nine-points while sophomore Travis Dickey and junior Nate Barbee added eight each.

The Indians were smoking hot from the 3-point line as they cashed in 12 long range bombs in the decisive victory.

Grayville saw its overall mark drop to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in Pool B.

Head coach Brian Hucker got 14-points from sophomore Cole Neely for the Bison.

Senior Bryce Holkenbrink and sophomore Tyson Jones chipped in seven-points each in the defeat.

Senior Blake Atwood and Josh Farris scored eight-points each in the loss.