NEVC Knights defeat Hume, double win total from a year ago

Saturday, December 13, 2014
Matt Resnick/Daily Mail/ Above: Northeast Vernon County Knights combo guard Drue Hoagland knifes through Hume defenders on his way to a layup. Also pictured, Hume players Zach Pippin (40), Dakota Thornburg (20), and Blake Lewis (4). In the background, NEVC point guard Trenton Rader (44).

Nevada Daily Mail

WALKER ---- The Northeast Vernon County Knights boys basketball team is off to a fast start, improving to 4-1, with a decisive 53-32 victory over the Hume Hornets, Thursday night.

Under first year head coach Joel McDuffey, the Knights have already doubled their win total from last season.

Matt Resnick/Daily Mail/ Above: Knights point guard Trenton Rader drives around Hume junior Tyler Clark. The Knights defeated Hume 53-32. In the background, NEVC Knights head coach Joel McDuffey looks on.

With the loss, Hume falls to 0-5.

Throughout the contest, the Hornets had difficulty containing NEVC post players Tyrein Davis and Taylor Highfill, who combined for 30 points.

Senior guard Drue Hoagland opened the game with two triples, the first coming from the top of the key, and the second from the right wing.

"Drue played well," McDuffey said. "Before the game we talked about identifying good shots, noticing when the defense had to move, and when the three is a good shot."

After the game, McDuffey said he was pleased with Hoagland's early shot selection.

"Drue was able to do a good job of moving the ball around and not pulling the trigger until he was open," McDuffey said.

Offensively, Hume came out running, pushing the ball in transition whenever they could. While the Hornets displayed their overall team quickness, they were unable to convert on a high number of layups and close-range looks, as they went into the locker room trailing 22-13.

Davis scored 12 points in the first half.

"He's just a banger down low," McDuffey said of Davis. "The kid works consistently. If he's not getting it off our passes or his moves ---- it's because he's hitting the boards hard, and he's going up strong. He's a workhorse for us."

Hume opened the second half with a straightaway jumper from guard Blake Lewis, cutting the Knights lead to 22-15

After Davis knocked down 1 of 2 free throws to extend the lead to eight, Hornets center Austin Sullins answered back with a short baseline jumper, making the score 23-17.

The teams continued to trade buckets, as NEVC forward Taylor Highfill sank a short jump shot from the right block, putting the Knights on top 25-17.

For Hume, the play of Sullins kept the game close, as he went up strong from underneath, scored and was fouled. Sullins missed the free throw, but the Knights were within six at 25-19, with 6:42 remaining in the third quarter.

With the game getting tight, Hoagland responded by drilling a trey from a couple of steps beyond the right wing, pushing the Knights lead to 28-19 with 5:48 left in the third.

At the other end, a running jumper from Sullins once again closed the Hume deficit to seven, at 28-21, which was as close as the Hornets would get the remainder of the game ---- as NEVC closed out the third quarter on a 9-2 run, grabbing a 37-23 lead.

The visitors sliced back into the lead early in the final frame when Lewis swished a 3-pointer, as the Hume trailed 37-26.

From that point, NEVC sealed the deal, going on an 11-2 run, with six of the points coming from point guard Trenton Rader.

"He did a fantastic job down the stretch, "McDuffey said of Rader. "He did a good job of controlling the ball, and controlling the tempo of game.

McDuffey said he had specific instructions for his guards.

"I told them I wanted them to bring the ball up and run our offense, but still look to attack," he said. "Because I'm not a big fan of pulling out and just playing the clock game.

"So Trenton took that to heart, and there for about two to three minutes, he was moving the ball around and attacking the holes whenever he had them. He's really quick when he decides he's going to attack, and he makes the attack in the right time and the right place. He can beat a lot of players off the first step.

Davis finished with a game-high 20 points, Hoagland added 13, and Highfill contributed 10.

For Hume, Lewis finished with a team-high 11 points, followed by Sullins with 10.

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