Hornets win over Mules
Coach Rick Ross and his Penney High Hornets got off to a good start in this year's KCI race with a home win over Lathrop last Friday night.
Jaran Richman helped Hamilton get off to a good start, scoring 9 first quarter points, and the Hornets leading 20-10 heading into the 2nd quarter. The Mules were able to cut into the Penney lead by the half, trailing 34-30 at the break. Hamilton's Latroy Harper started the second half with a 3-pointer and ended with 9 points in the quarter as the Hornets led 51-40 at the end of the third. Penney continued to extend their lead in the 4th quarter with pressure defense, rebounding, and some great assists, limiting Lathrop to 8 points in the final 8 minutes for a 61-48 victory.
Both teams were saddled with foul trouble much of the second quarter and continuing through the second half. Latroy Harper led all scorers with 21 points, while the Mules leading scorer was Conner Vanderkooi with 12. Other scorers for Hamilton included 14 by Jaran Richman, 10 for Telly Harper, 6 by Mason McFall, 5 for Korby Ford, 2 apiece by Derek Dixon and Andy Ernat, and 1 for Reed Henderson. The Hornets received some very valuable minutes from several other players including Wesley Pratt, Drake Brown, and Cale Whitt.
This was by far Penney's best and most complete game of the young season. Hamilton will see action in the NCMC Holiday Hoops Shootout at Trenton beginning with a 10:30 a.m. contest against Knob Noster on Tuesday, December 22nd, and finish the calendar year against Savannah on Monday, December 28th, again at 10:30 a.m. in Trenton.
