VEEDERSBURG — Fountain Central's boys basketball team changed first half turnovers into second half 3-pointers in a 67-50 win over Clinton Central.
The Mustangs improve to 4-1 on the season as they made more field goals from beyond the arc than inside it, shooting exactly 50% from long range.
A 7-of-9 third quarter from three range turned a close game the other direction for FC, who struggled with turnovers in the first half, but not the second.
“We've been waiting for a breakout game,” Mustangs coach Phil Shabi said. “We've been shooting only 30 percent (from three's) and we have a lot of guys who have the green light. We want to shoot 25-30 of them a game. We just got into a better pace and did a good job in transition in the second half. It was good to get going.”
The greenest light shone on Will Harmon, as the freshman hit all five of his three-balls to lead the Mustangs with 17 points.
“Having a freshman get red-hot is a good way to start,” Shabi noted of Harmon, who finished 6-of-8 from the floor. “It was a breakout game.”
Also in double-digit scoring for FC was Mason Larkin and Carson Eberly.
Larkin, only a sophomore, scored 12 and grabbed 10 rebounds for his double-double. Eberly, the senior guard, was 4-of-7 from the field to finish with 10.
“Clinton Central's 1-2-2 zone gave us some looks,” Shabi said. “It told the guys to find an open spot, and in the second half we started throwing the ball to the guys in the white shirts. We picked up the pace and stopped telegraphing passes.”
Both teams had a dozen turnovers in the first half, but FC had only two in the pivotal third quarter.
The up-tempo game also worked to the Mustangs advantage, as for the second straight game, they got 10 players into the scoring column.
“We've got 10 guys full-time,” Shabi said. “We've got eight guys who are gonna play and the other two will give us spot minutes. We got into a little foul trouble, and our guys just gave us a real boost off the bench. We are not going to grind out a game. We want a faster pace and to push the ball in transition.”
The Mustangs finished with 13 3-pointers and 11 2-pointers for the game, shooting exactly 50 percent from long range and finishing 24-of-50 from the field overall.
They were 6-of-14 from the line, won the rebound battle 39-35 and had 20 turnovers to the Bulldogs 18.
Clinton Central falls to 1-2 for the season. They were 21-of-49 from the field, hit only one three-pointer in 11attempts, and were 7-of-20 from the line.
They were led in scoring by J.T. Holton's 12 points.
“We are here to have fun,” Shabi noted. “We choose to be together in these strange times. We will have fun by playing as hard as possible, playing tough all the time, and being positive.”
The Mustangs are idle until after Christmas, when they will play Attica for the second time this season in the first round of the Bi-County Tourney next Tuesday. The defeated the Red Ramblers 51-45 last week.
JV
FC dominated the jv game, winning 56-20.
Luke Foxworthy had 14, Owen Acton had 13 and Isaac Gayler added 12 points.
