Boys Basketball

Chargers doomed by slow start

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WILLIAMSPORT – Seeger came out with all guns firing Friday against visiting North Montgomery. When the dust settled the Chargers found themselves trailing in the first quarter 19-7. North was not able to complete a second half comeback losing 50-45.

The Patriots connected on 8-of-12 shots in the opening stanza. Leading the way was Seeger junior Ayden Winchester who scored eight of his game high 18 points. Senior Cameron Laws hit two shots from behind the 3-point line to add to the barrage.

The Chargers offense started slow. North hit just three of their 15 shots in the first quarter.

Charger Coach Chad Arnold said the Seeger’s hot start and his team’s slow start set the tempo of the game.

“Seeger had guys come out and ready to play,” Arnold said. “And our guys did not come ready to play for whatever reason.”

The Chargers did warm up in the second quarter by hitting five of six shots while Seeger cooled off by connecting on just four of 14 attempts. The halftime score was 29-21 with the home team leading.

Charger senior Jarrod Kirsch tried to get his team back into the game with seven third quarter points but he did not get much support. Corbin Meadows, after an offensive rebound, hit a short shot to give North nine third quarter points.

Early in the third quarter the Patriots built a 35-21 lead before North Montgomery their nine points to get back into the game.

The Charger defense held Seeger to only three field goals in the third stanza as the Chargers whittled the Patriot lead to 36-30 going in the final quarter.

“I liked our fight and how we didn’t quit,” Arnold said. “We kept competing and got the scored tied in the final quarter.”

North Montgomery’s Cameron Enlow fueled the North effort in the fourth quarter. The junior scored nine points in the quarter. His old-fashioned three-point play tied the score at 38 apiece with just 4:24 left in the game.

The Chargers had two opportunities to take the lead, however turnovers stalled the comeback.

Seeger connected on 10-of-14 free throws to keep the Chargers from getting any closer.

“Man, the end of the game we had our chances to take the lead and turned it over at least three times in a row,” Arnold. “We have to be able to finish close games.”

The turnover differential played a big part in the game. With the Chargers playing most of the game in a zone, Seeger only had five miscues. Seeger’s constant pressure forced 13 Charger turnovers.

North Montgomery also soundly lost the rebounding battle. Seeger garnered 32 rebounds while North could only grab 21 caroms.

Next the Chargers will travel to county-rival Crawfordsville Friday for a girl/boy doubleheader.

 

North Montgomery 45, Seeger 50

Score by quarters

NMHS 7 14 9 15 – 45

SHS 19 10 7 14 – 50

NMHS (2-2) FG-FGA FT-FM TP Cameron Enlow 4-8 1-1 12, Jarrod Kirsch 4-8 0-0 12, Kelby Harwood 3-9 0-0 6, Ross Dyson 2-4 0-0 4, Jack Warren 1-3 0-0 2, Corbin Meadows 1-3 0-0 2, Colten Arnold 1-3 0-0 3, Noah Hopkins 2-4 2-2 6 Totals 18-42 3-3 45.

SHS (2-1) FG-FGA FT-FTM TP Cameron Laws 3-5 0-2 8, Hunter Thomas 1-4 2-2 4, Tyler Harris 0-4 0-0 0, Ayden Winchester 7-9 2-4 18, Christian Holland 3-8 3-6 9, Luke Pluimer 3-8 4-4 11, Jett Collins 0-1 0-0 0, Jack Cole 0-02-2 2 Totals 17-39 13-20 50.

3-pt Shooting: NM 6-18 (Enlow 3-6, Kirsch 2-6, Harwood 0-2, Dyson 0-2, Warren 0-2, Arnold 1-2. SHS 3-9 (Laws 2-2, Thomas 0-2, Harris 0-1, Winchester 0-1, Holland 0-1, Pluimer 1-3).

Team Statistics

Rebounds: NMHS 21 (Harwood 8, Hopkins 3) SHS 32 (Pluimer 6, Winchester 6)

Fouls : NMHS 16, SHS 7

Turnovers: NMHS 13, SHS 5


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