COLONY — Defense played a big role in Crest High’s Lancers’ 77-41 win over the visiting Pleasanton High Blu-Jays Tuesday.
“We got after it tonight. I’m very pleased with the way our kids played defensively and that translated into easy baskets in transition for us,” said Lancer head coach Travis Hermreck.
Crest High’s Lady Lancers lost 43-35 to Pleasanton but gained ground. Lady Lancer head coach Daniel Buller has seen his team continue to improve game after game.
“We came out and played hard. We maintained intensity throughout the game. This was the best girls’ game seen at Crest in a while,” Buller said.
The Crest teams entertain Oswego Friday for the Lancer homecoming which has a bit of a switch. The boys’ game tips off at 6 p.m. followed by the girls’ varsity game.
Also, a special presentation of a book of all-time high school scorers will be dedicated to Crest by the family of former CHS player Max Hinkle. Hinkle scored 60 points in a 1958 game for the Lancers.
Against Pleasanton, Crest’s boys jumped out to a 22-8 lead by the end of first quarter. They owned a commanding 53-21 halftime advantage.
With his game-high 24 points, Crest junior Kyle Hammond went over the 1,000-point career mark. Sophomore Jordan Morton drained four three-pointers on his way to 23 points.
Cole Bowen fired in 13 points and made four steals. Hammond had four steals, eight assists and six rebounds. Morton dished out six assists.
Crest shot 53 percent, 32 of 60, from the field and went 6 of 10 from the free-throw line. Pleasanton was held to 27.5 percent, 16 of 58, from the field and the Blu-Jays were 8 of 13 from the line.
Preston Coffman had 13 points for the Jays.
COMING OFF their third win — 37-34 over Chetopa on Friday — the Lady Lancers had a little trouble getting things started at home Tuesday. They fell behind 11-4 by the end of the first quarter and had to work against a 29-14 halftime deficit.
Crest battled back into the contest, outscoring Pleasanton 10-3 in the third period. Each team added 11 points to their totals in the fourth quarter.
“We played as a team and moved the ball down the court well,” Buller said. “We were successful in rebounding at both ends of the court.”
