Defense leads Mustangs over Wildcats
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
MOWRYSTOWN — In a first half full of defensive pressure by both clubs, it was the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs who broke out more offense in the second half for a 57-27 Southern Hills Athletic Conference win Friday night at WHS.
The win puts the Mustangs at 5-0 on the road and 7-3 overall (4-1, SHAC).
Defense was present in the first quarter with Whiteoak (0-6, 1-10) leading the visiting Mustangs, 10-9 after the first quarter. From there, LC led at halftime, 22-12.
This was the first game for the Mustangs since Dec. 28.
"Defensively, we played well," LC head coach Matt Carson said. "Defense is what we hang our hat on. In the first half, I thought both teams were evenly aggressive, with both teams playing hard.
"With about four minutes to go in the first half, we upped our intensity and built a lead."
As for the first quarter, it was the Wildcats who were first to score with Nick Wardlow putting the 'Cats ahead 2-0 less than a minute into the game, but that was followed around a minute later with Ryan Inman tying the score for the Mustangs with two free throws.
From there, it was WHS who went on an 8-3 run, with Brandon Ashbaugh and Wardlow combining for the points, including six points from Ashbaugh. The LC 3-pointer came from Devin Pierson with 5:56 left in the quarter.
Pierson led LC all scorers with 20 points, including two 3-pointers. Inman totaled 18 points for the Mustangs.
The defense continued to stifle both squads, but LC managed to end the first with four points in the final 3:00, with Pierson and Inman cutting the WHS lead to one point after eight minutes.
"We started off well," WHS head coach Tom Wessner said. "We did what we wanted to do in the first quarter. We played well against the press and got good looks at the basket.
"Then we started setting for 15-foot jumpers as they became the norm, and they sped us up."
LC's defense really took over in the second frame as they outscored the hosts, 13-2.
In that quarter, the two points from WHS were off free throws by Williams, as he was the lone player to score points for WHS in the second and third quarters. He led the Wildcats with 14 points, including finishing 6-of-8 from the free-throw line.
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"When Tyler is aggressive, he's a very good player," Wessner said. "We need to make sure he's more consistent. Tyler had a good game."
For the second frame, Marc Blankenship, Inman, Pierson and Josh Ahrmann combined for the 13 points and 22-12 advantage.
From there in the final two frames, LC outscored their Highland County rival, 35-15 with Chaz Lanier, Tristan Wilbanks, Inman and Pierson all contributing to the 14-point third frame of the Mustangs.
In the fourth, Colt Dunseith, Wilbanks, Inman, Pierson, Quentin Lewis and Christian Inman all scored points.
Ryan Inman scored 13 points in the second half.
"We have won five road games now, and that is tough to do in this league," Carson said. "We just have to keep getting better, but defensively, I like where we are at."
For WHS in the fourth, Ashbaugh, Jason Jones and Williams all scored points.
"We rebounded well, and again, we had good looks at the basket," Wessner said. "We just got into a hurry and foul trouble hurt us, but it happens, and we have to keep on working."
The Mustangs return to the court on Saturday night as they will host the Peebles Indians in a SHAC game.
"Saturday should be a good game and atmosphere," Carson said. "It will be a challenge, and we are looking forward to it."
In JV play, LC defeated WHS, 48-26. Leading the Mustangs was Tyler Barton with 13 points, and leading WHS was Derrick Ison with eight.
The win puts the Mustangs at 5-0 on the road and 7-3 overall (4-1, SHAC).
Defense was present in the first quarter with Whiteoak (0-6, 1-10) leading the visiting Mustangs, 10-9 after the first quarter. From there, LC led at halftime, 22-12.
This was the first game for the Mustangs since Dec. 28.
"Defensively, we played well," LC head coach Matt Carson said. "Defense is what we hang our hat on. In the first half, I thought both teams were evenly aggressive, with both teams playing hard.
"With about four minutes to go in the first half, we upped our intensity and built a lead."
As for the first quarter, it was the Wildcats who were first to score with Nick Wardlow putting the 'Cats ahead 2-0 less than a minute into the game, but that was followed around a minute later with Ryan Inman tying the score for the Mustangs with two free throws.
From there, it was WHS who went on an 8-3 run, with Brandon Ashbaugh and Wardlow combining for the points, including six points from Ashbaugh. The LC 3-pointer came from Devin Pierson with 5:56 left in the quarter.
Pierson led LC all scorers with 20 points, including two 3-pointers. Inman totaled 18 points for the Mustangs.
The defense continued to stifle both squads, but LC managed to end the first with four points in the final 3:00, with Pierson and Inman cutting the WHS lead to one point after eight minutes.
"We started off well," WHS head coach Tom Wessner said. "We did what we wanted to do in the first quarter. We played well against the press and got good looks at the basket.
"Then we started setting for 15-foot jumpers as they became the norm, and they sped us up."
LC's defense really took over in the second frame as they outscored the hosts, 13-2.
In that quarter, the two points from WHS were off free throws by Williams, as he was the lone player to score points for WHS in the second and third quarters. He led the Wildcats with 14 points, including finishing 6-of-8 from the free-throw line.
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"When Tyler is aggressive, he's a very good player," Wessner said. "We need to make sure he's more consistent. Tyler had a good game."
For the second frame, Marc Blankenship, Inman, Pierson and Josh Ahrmann combined for the 13 points and 22-12 advantage.
From there in the final two frames, LC outscored their Highland County rival, 35-15 with Chaz Lanier, Tristan Wilbanks, Inman and Pierson all contributing to the 14-point third frame of the Mustangs.
In the fourth, Colt Dunseith, Wilbanks, Inman, Pierson, Quentin Lewis and Christian Inman all scored points.
Ryan Inman scored 13 points in the second half.
"We have won five road games now, and that is tough to do in this league," Carson said. "We just have to keep getting better, but defensively, I like where we are at."
For WHS in the fourth, Ashbaugh, Jason Jones and Williams all scored points.
"We rebounded well, and again, we had good looks at the basket," Wessner said. "We just got into a hurry and foul trouble hurt us, but it happens, and we have to keep on working."
The Mustangs return to the court on Saturday night as they will host the Peebles Indians in a SHAC game.
"Saturday should be a good game and atmosphere," Carson said. "It will be a challenge, and we are looking forward to it."
In JV play, LC defeated WHS, 48-26. Leading the Mustangs was Tyler Barton with 13 points, and leading WHS was Derrick Ison with eight.