5-3A BOYS

Defense gives ’Cats latest rout

Episcopal Collegiate freshman Allie Freeman (left) tries to shoot past Benton Harmony Grove’s Larry McMurray during Friday’s game in Little Rock. Freeman ÿnished with seven points as Episcopal won 45-31.
Episcopal Collegiate freshman Allie Freeman (left) tries to shoot past Benton Harmony Grove’s Larry McMurray during Friday’s game in Little Rock. Freeman ÿnished with seven points as Episcopal won 45-31.

— Freshman Kelvin Robinson scored 14 points, helping Episcopal Collegiate knock off visiting Benton Harmony Grove 45-31 on Friday night and cap a week in which the unbeaten Wildcats outscored their three opponents by a combined 112 points.

Episcopal (13-0, 4-0 5-3A) limited Harmony Grove (7-4, 3-1) to eight points in the first half and the Wildcats’ pressure defense helped force the Cardinals into 11 turnovers in the second quarter. Harmony Grove drew within five points with 3:12 to play, but the Wildcats scored the game’s final nine points.

“[Harmony Grove’s] height gave us some problems,” Episcopal Coach Micah Marsh said. “And we were 1 for 16 on three-pointers and that never helps. We didn’t shoot it well at all. ... But you’ve got to give our guys some credit. We fought through their little run and got the victory.”

The Wildcats appeared to be on their way to a convincing victory over Harmony Grove, taking a 23-8 lead into the third quarter.

Behind 6-4 junior Mitch Scoggins, the Cardinals got back into the contest in the third quarter. Scoggins hit 3 three-pointers and scored 11 of his game-high 16 points in the quarter as Harmony Grove closed within 30-24 to start the final eight minutes.

“He’s really worked hard on his offensive game and it showed tonight,” Harmony Grove first-year Coach Dexter Hendrix said. “We’re starting four guys this year that had never started a game before this year. ... We had never been in this type of atmosphere and it took us a half to get adjusted.”

Harmony Grove scored the game’s first points when 6-10 junior Hayden Burchfield took a pass from Drake Wilks and hit a 3-footer three minutes into the game. Episcopal scored the next eight points and never trailed again.

Harmony Grove was only 3 of 14 from the floor in the first half and the Cardinals were guilty of 15 first-half turnovers. In the second half, Harmony Grove was 7 of 19 and had only five turnovers. Episcopal scored the final 12 points of the first half.

The Cardinals did hit their first five field-goal attempts of the third quarter to cut Episcopal’s lead to 25-19. Burchfield hit a free throw 29 seconds into the final quarter to help Harmony Grove pull within 30-25, but Robinson scored the next six points, all in a span of 51 seconds and the Wildcats’ lead was back to 11.

Maylon Martin added 13 points for the Wildcats, Justin Gooseberry had eight rebounds and Allie Freeman finished with seven points.

Sports, Pages 24 on 12/15/2012

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