RANDY HISNER
WZBD.com
MAPLES – A 9-2 team going up against a 1-6 team could fall victim to complacency and come out flat.
That definitely did not happen to the Heritage Patriots at home Saturday against Southern Wells. The Patriots were sharp and efficient from the opening tip, scoring the first 20 points of the game on their way to a 59-20 trouncing of the Raiders.
Lucas Taylor gave fair warning of the Patriots’ intentions when he drove aggressively for a layup just six seconds into the game. After a Southern Wells turnover—one of seven for the quarter—sophomore Nolan Bowers scored on a post up. LanTae Cassell followed with a three from the right corner to make it 7-0.
Bowers scored on the left block, then stole the ball at half court and took it in for a layup for his fifth and sixth points and an 11-0 Patriot lead at the 3:48 mark.
A Southern Wells time out did nothing to stop the onslaught, the Patriots scoring the next nine points for a 20-0 advantage. With 14 seconds left, the Raiders’ Jaxon Casterline hit a jump hook to avoid a first-quarter shutout.
“We talked about in the last few days being ready to go from the start,” said Heritage coach Kyle Sovine. “You know, we’re just coming off a loss, so I told them you guys should be pretty mad and take it out on Southern Wells, and I thought we did that. I thought we did a good job on defense, and offensively, sort of moving the ball, getting everybody involved.”
The second quarter was more competitive. The Southern Wells offense recovered from its abysmal opening quarter to score 10 points—including four from both Casterline and Hunter Durham—but the Raiders still fell further behind since the Pats scored 14 to take a 34-12 lead into the locker room. Cassel led the Heritage attack in the period with seven points.
The third quarter was a near carbon copy of the first. The Patriots outscored the Raiders 19-2 for an insurmountable 53-14 lead. Six Patriots scored in the period, led again by Cassel with six points.
With Sovine getting some playing time for his bench players, the teams played to a 6-6 tie in the fourth quarter.
The Patriots were playing without their leading scorer, sophomore Kingston Gallentine, who suffered a minor injury in Tuesday’s one-point loss to Bellmont. Sovine expects him to be ready for next Tuesday’s ACAC tournament opener against Adams Central.
In Gallentine’s absence, fellow sophomore Nolan Bowers, averaging 3.7 points coming into the game, had a big night with 10 points and several blocks. “It was good to see him score inside,” said Sovine. “You know, he goes off his confidence. He hasn’t been scoring down low lately, so it’s good to get him down low and get him involved. And I think that confidence will carry over.”
The win put Heritage at 2-0 in the ACAC. The Raiders fell to 0-3.
Cassel led Heritage with 16 points. Bowers and Taurean Brown each scored 10. Nick Sevier had six, Jaxon Feasby five, Garrett Oliver and Taylor four, Myles Harris and Brady Boyle two.
Durham scored 10 for Southern Wells. Casterline added eight, Joshua Aulbach two.
The Raiders had 18 turnovers, the Patriots 10.
The Patriots were a blistering 23-of-37 (62%) on twos, 3-of-11 (27%) on threes, and 4-of-7 on free throws (57%).
The Raiders hit 8-of-25 (32%) on twos, 0-of-7 on threes, and 4-of-6 (67%) from the line.
Heritage won the JV game, 51-13. Brady Boyle led the Patriots with 17 points. Easton Meyer had 10.
The Heritage girls will take on Adams Central in the first round of the ACAC tournament Tuesday at 6:00 P.M. at Heritage. The boys’ teams from the same schools will follow at 7:45.
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