Washington-Marion secured crosstown bragging rights over Hamilton Christian Academy in emphatic fashion, never trailing in a 71-56 win at Hamilton Tuesday night.

W-M (7-2) started the game with a 10-2 run and forced 11 turnovers in the first quarter and made four 3-pointers in the second quarter to stretch its lead to 18 points at halftime.

Joshua Porche led W-M with 13 points off the bench, including seven in the first quarter as the Charging Indians built their lead.

“He is a hustler, aggressive, always plays hard for us,” said W-M head coach Albert Hartwell. “He gives us that spurt we need. Sometimes I can start him, sometimes I can bring him off the bench. I tell him we use him when we need to. If we have people we need to stop early, we can go to him because he is always aggressive. He brings the fire you need.”

Hartwell said the rest of the team brought the proper attitude early.

“We came out being real aggressive; they played together as a unit. “They had that fire in them. I guess playing against guys they knew, arguing over the summer, fussing, trying to see who is going to be the best led up to a big game. We talked about how they would come out fighting. I told them we would have to be like a prizefighter, keep them on the ropes until we knock them out.”

Quajae Boutte scored 12 for W-M. Chris Edwards and Jeremiah Warren added 11 and L’Marcus Walker scored 10.

Justin Bartie led Hamilton (5-4) with 23 points. Brandon Blackwell scored 17 and grabbed eight rebounds. Bartie missed most of the first quarter after being cut on the head and leaving the floor for treatment. His three-point play on Hamilton’s last possession of the first quarter pulled the Warriors within five points, but W-M responded with an 14-3 run to take a 16-point lead midway through the second quarter.

Hamilton missed five straight free throws during W-M’s second-quarter run and turned the ball over on four consecutive possessions in the first quarter.

(Rick Hickman/American Press)

Rick Hickman