Hamilton jumps on Hornets early, stingy defense ignites rout
Published 2:01 pm Wednesday, February 2, 2022
- The Warriors’ Deon Ware goes up for a dunk over Grand Lake’s Grant Trahan during a District 4-1A game Tuesday night at Hamilton Christian. Ware scored a game-high 14 points. (Rick Hickman / American Press)
Hamilton Christian opened with a dominant run to take a double-digit lead it didn’t relinquish Tuesday night in a 59-28 win over District 4-1A rival Grand Lake.
The win kept the Warriors (16-6, 4-0) perfect in district play and set up a first-place showdown Friday night with co-leader Elton (17-6, 4-0). Hamilton Christian has won its last 11 games.
Grand Lake (16-3, 3-1) got the game’s first bucket from Blayne Copper, but then Hamilton Christian rolled off 15 consecutive to take control. A steal and layup by Elijah Belton put the Warriors up 3-2. Neiman Sullen and Deion Ware each scored a pair of buckets in the run, which was capped by a Devonte Coffee 3-pointer. Coffee scored eight first-quarter points off the bench.
“Early on it was defense,” Warriors head coach Dexter Washington said. “We were getting into passing lanes and were able to finish. Once we get on a run like that, our emotions and momentum carry us and we feel like we’ve already won the game.
“We got a little complacent late in the game. Offensively we had some really good looks, but we’ve had guys that have been pretty sick.”
Hamilton scored the first 10 points of the second quarter to take a 22-point lead and put the game away.
Malachi Evans scored 11 points and blocked three shots for the Warriors.
“I was impressed with him; he was rebounding the ball, blocking shots and protecting the lane,” Washington said of Evans. “His presence is starting to be felt. He missed a couple of layups and dunks, but that will come with time.”
Ware led Hamilton with 14 points. Sullen, Coffee and Belton all finished with eight.
“I think, where we are right now, we are starting to play well as a team,” Washington said. “Deion has to get his shot back. He is trying too hard to make them instead of just shooting.
“Our defense only gave up, 28 points, you can’t ask for any better than that. Once we get our shooting going again, we’ll be in good shape.”
Copper led Grand Lake, which had its nine-game winning streak snapped, with nine points. Brycen Guillory added eight points for the Hornets.
