HARTFORD — A funny thing happened on the way to the victory column.
Crest High’s boys were rolling along to their 10th win of the season, leading host Hartford High by 17 points in the second half Tuesday. But the Jaguars, who had scored only 26 points through the first three quarters, erupted from outside in the final eight minutes. Hartford scored 29 points in the fourth quarter alone.
“Put another minute on the clock, and we are probably talking about a different outcome,” Lancer head coach Travis Hermreck said.
But Hartford’s onslaught only brought them to within the final four-point margin, 59-55.
The victory lifts Crest’s record to 10-3.
The Lancers will host Marmaton Valley Thursday in a contest postponed from earlier in the season.
“We got out to an early lead,” Hermreck said. “We just couldn’t put them away. We just looked distracted, like we were somewhere else. Then they got hot in the fourth quarter.”
Hartford’s Michael Wilson, scoreless through three quarters, scored 14 in the final frame alone, Hermreck said.
Bryan Newton led the way for the victors with a game-high 25 points, while Kyle Hammond scored 16 and Jordan Morton had nine.
Still, Hermreck saw plenty of room for improvement.
Crest led 10-5 after one quarter and 21-13 at the break. The Lancers led 41-26 at the end of the third quarter.
“We gave a marginal effort tonight,” Hermreck said. “We’re going to have to do a lot better against Marmaton Valley.”
Adam Ewy also scored 14 for the Jaguars.
Crest (10-11-20-18—59) (FG/3-pt): Wiley 0-3-2-3, Stinnett 1-0-5-2, Morton 2-5-3-9, Hammond 4/2-2-3-16, Decker 0-0-2-0, Bowen 0-0-1-0, Newton 10-5-1-25, Stoneking 1-0-0-2, Ramsey 1-0-3-2. TOTALS: 19/2-15-20-59.
Hartford (5-8-13-29—55) (FG/3-pt): Wilkerson 1-1-5-3, Ewy 2/3-1-2-14, Barrett 1-4-4-6, Schmitz 1-2-1-4, Wilson 1/4-0-1-14, Lingenfelter 1-0-5-2, Schwinghamer 3-0-3-6, Sliter 2-2-1-6. TOTALS: 12/7-10-22-55.
Lancers notch win
