Panthers get win over St. Benedict
Nathan Hoover plays keep away from his Houston opponent. Bartlett split last week’s basketball action.
The Bartlett boy’s basketball team used balanced scoring and an up-tempo offense to drop St. Benedict 62-57 Friday night.
“The guys are starting to buy in what we are doing in practice,” Coach Anthony Smith said. “We went deeper into our bench and the second unit came out with intensity.”
AJ Jones earned special praise from his first-year coach. “AJ was pushing the ball – penetrating and kicking the ball back out,” Smith said.
The Panthers took a four-point lead into intermission and never let it get closer than three. Nathan Hoover and Letonio Slayton put Bartlett in charge with 10 and eight first half points respectively. Eric Waddell added 11 second half points while Eric McGill led all scorers with 14 in an even game.
Bartlett 62 – Aaron Bell 2, Nathan Hoover 13, Desmond Howard 2, AJ Jones 7, Eric McGill 14, Jeff Teel 2, Eric Waddell 11, Letonio Slayton 9
St. Benedict – Robert Allen 6, Alex Ashlock 5, Tyler Currie 9, Anthony Denegri 10, Yusuf Egal 9, Joey Magnifico 3, Rabassa Turner 13, Kyle Van Hoeck 2.
Houston 70 Bartlett 58
Defensive breakdowns led to a series of baskets and a free throw as Bartlett fell to Houston 74-60.
“We made young mistakes and gave them a bunch of and ones,” Coach Smith said. “We had trouble switching in their flex offense but we will get better.”
The youthful Panthers are learning on the fly with Erics Waddell and McGill as well as freshman AJ Jones getting accolades from their coach.
Bartlett jumped to an early eight-point lead and held a 30-25 advantage at intermission. Houston picked up the defensive pace after the break and took a 13-point, 56-43 lead into the final eight minutes and Bartlett could not muster a charge.
Eric Waddell led all scorers with 24 on the night including 10 in the first quarter. Nathan Hoover added 15 for the Panthers.
Houston 70 – Keith Collins 17, Josh Davis 6, Malik Elion 4, TJ Johnson 10, Jerry Johnson Jr. 13, Gavin McCary 2, Brandon Porter 2, Sasha Shasobolev 5, Aaron Smith 3, Connor Tipford 6, Alex Ziomek 2.
Bartlett 58 – Aaron Bell 4, Nathan Hoover 12, Desmond Howard 5, AJ Jones 2, Eric McGill 4, Jeff Teel 5, Eric Waddell 21, Letonio Slayton 2, Demarious Cason 3.
