Smartt recorded a double-double, scoring 25 points and grabbing 18 rebounds. Schrader added 17 points, including 5-5 from the free throw line.
Corey Weimer also recorded a double-double. He scored 14 points as well as coming down with 14 rebounds. John Patterson added eight points, while Joshua James and Aaron Battaglia each added seven.
Hurley came out in a triangle and two defense, but Warriors Coach Mike Foley was expecting that to happen.
“I have two seniors that both have over 1,000 points in their careers, 20-point scorers every night,” said Foley. “We are going to get that every game.”
The game was tied after the 1st quarter and New Covenant Academy only led by nine going into halftime. However, coming out in the 2nd half, the Tigers switched to a man-to-man defense, due to large part of the offensive execution by the Warriors.
“We know what to do,” said Foley. “We’ve got three offenses to run against that.”
In what was a reasonably close game throughout the 1st half, but the Warriors used a 29-14 3rd quarter to pull away from the Tigers. New Covenant Academy outscored the Tigers by 20 in the second-half.
The Warriors owned the boards, outrebounding the Tigers 55-27. 32 of those 55 rebounds came from two players. Chace Smartt was one of those them.
“Rebounding is nothing but effort,” said Smartt. “You can use technique, you can use form but it really just comes down to heart, and knowing that the ‘ball will be mine’ kind of attitude.”
After winning the opener, the Warriors lost three straight before Friday night. Coach Foley was glad to see a whole game was put together.
“Tonight, we finally put all four quarters together,” said Foley. “We’ve had a rocky start to the season, where we just couldn’t put an offensive and a defensive night together but tonight, we finally did that.”
Knowing that the triangle and two defense will be played against the Warriors for most of the season, Smartt is believing in the other players to start knocking down shots.
“Me and Schrader know we will be covered and we absolutely believe in the other guys,” said Smarrt. “They are stepping up, starting too hit some shots and really chipped in tonight.”
Tyler Simpson led the Tigers with 22 points. The point guard also recorded eight rebounds, seven assists, and four steals. Jayln Wilson added 13 points, while Jacob McClendon chipped in with 8.
E-Mail
Print
