Aces win with speed and defense; Hornets take the victory at Perry Central
Owensboro Catholic utilized its speed and defensive pressure to secure a 78-67 win over Hancock County during the Hornets’ home opener Tuesday.
“They absolutely killed us on the glass and we were playing man (defense) so there is no excuse for that,” HCHS coach Mike Orr said. “At the end of the day they were more aggressive, they were faster and they were tougher. But we play them again and we know what we did wrong. We’re going work and we’re going to improve in those areas.”
The Aces’ Brian Griffith dropped in three 3-point baskets in the first quarter and the Hornets played catch up after that. Catholic led 22-14 at the first horn.
Hancock County battled and clawed in front of their home crowd and the team’s effort paid off in the second quarter. Kaleb Keown hit a “3” and scored seven points in the frame as the Hornets pulled closer. Devyn Powers scored on an assist by Evan Ferry in the final seconds and the Hornets were within one point, trailing 36-35 at halftime.
The Aces scored the first points of the second half and gradually built the lead to 49-38 when coach Orr called time out. Keown and Powers both scored out of the time out, but a conventional 3-point play by Tutt Carrico pushed Catholic’s lead to 10 points. The Aces won the quarter 19-9.
A breakaway lay up by Griffith put Catholic ahead 61-46 early in the fourth. An offensive rebound and a basket by Luke Brown helped keep the Hornets alive, but the visitors quickly went back up by 15 points.
Ryan Ogle and Cole Dixon both had a great fourth quarter offensively, but Griffith and the Aces were too much to overcome on this night.
Catholic shot 49% from the field and were 7 of 12 from the foul line. Hancock’s field goal numbers were not available at press time. The Hornets made 17 of 19 from the stripe.
Ogle led the Hornets with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Keown scored 15, with four boards and four assists. The senior scored his 1,000th career point late in the game as he joined is father, Kevin Keown, and siblings Kolton and Kassie in the prestigious club of scorers.
Dixon had 13 points and seven rebounds, Ferry had nine points, three boards and six assists, Powers had seven points and three boards, and Brown had two points and three rebounds.
Griffith finished with 30 points for the Aces.
Perry Central
The Hornets secured their first win of the season with an impressive performance, winning 74-54 over Perry Central in Leopold (IN) Friday. Devyn Powers scored multiple times in each quarter and led Hancock County with 21 points.
“We played very well over there and we shot the ball extremely well,” coach Orr said. “It was a hostile environment for sure and we showed some guts. We had several starters in foul trouble and our bench really stepped up.”
Ryan Ogle buried two 3-point baskets in the opening frame and the Hornets never trailed in the game. Kaleb Keown and Powers knocked down a pair of 3’s and Hancock County led 19-10 after one.
Six HCHS players found the scoring column during the second period and the Hornets increased their advantage to 36-20 by halftime.
Cole Dixon and Even Ferry got going offensively in the third quarter while Luke Brown, Jack Duncan and Alex Madden chipped in with made baskets. Powers and Keown continued to be consistent scorers and the lead grew to 60-34 after three.
Coach Orr backed off the throttle in the fourth and the reserves got their chance on the floor. Senior Max Gray splashed a “3” before he horn sounded on the first of what should be many Hornets wins this season.
Hancock County made 28 of 43 field goals for an impressive mark of 65 percent for the game. Even more spectacular was the team’s 62.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Hornets did struggle from the foul line, making 8 of 13 for 61.5 percent.
Powers had three rebounds, two assists and two steals to go with his game-high 21 points. Ogle finished with 13 points, five boards, and one block, Keown had 12 points, six boards and a block. Dixon had nine points, six boards and five assists, Ferry had five points, three boards and 10 assists, Brown had four points and one assist, Dylan Morris and Gray had three points each, Duncan had two points, six boards and a block, and Madden scored two points.
Cohen Edwards led Perry Central with 20 points.
By Steve Wimmer
