by JOHN HOWLEY / sportingpumpkin.com
KINNIKINNICK — A huge third quarter was just what the doctor ordered for Westfall to open its season with a 54-25 win over Amanda-Clearcreek at the Zane Trace Tipoff Classic.
Holding a 17-12 lead at the half, the Mustangs scored the first eight points of the third period on the way to a 25-4 quarter and a 42-16 lead.
“I felt like the first half we were doing a lot of the same things but not finishing around the bucket, not knocking down some open shots. That’s a credit to our guys that even though some things weren’t falling, they kept up the pressure,” Westfall coach Kyle Joseph said.
Brody Clark had 11 of his game-high 25 points for the Mustangs in the third and Joe Wray added seven of his 13 in the third as well.
The Mustangs opened the game with a 12-2 first quarter but the Aces had a good defensive showing in the second to close to 17-12.
“We preached in that timeout to get out in the passing lanes,” AC coach Jamie Justus said. “I thought we got out in the passing lanes, our ball pressure was good, we forced some turnovers and limited their shots. That was a good defensive quarter.”
Maddox Cupp was AC’s leading scorer with seven points.
“We’re kind of struggling on the offensive end. We didn’t shoot the ball very well tonight,” Justus said. “We’ve got to find ways to win ugly and it’s going to start with our defense.”
For Joseph, being a 2006 Westfall grad, it was his first win at the helm of his alma mater. And the team is expecting many more this season.
“Just personally, for me, it means a lot,” he said of the win. “As a team, we have some high expectations for this year.
“I was just really pleased to see the effort we came out with.”
Westfall 54, Amanda-Clearcreek 25
Westfall — Brody Clark 10-1-25, Joe Wray 5-3-13, Bryan Craig 1-0-2, Brydan Gall 1-1-3, Henry Barnes 3-0-6, Jerry Layton 2-1-5. Three-point goals — Clark (4). Total — 22-6-54.
Amanda-Clearcreek — Colton Westhoven 1-3-5, Nick Holland 1-0-2, Maddox Cupp 1-4-7, Jace Morrison 1-0-2, Tanner Rose 4-0-9. Three-point goals — Cupp, Rose. Total — 8-7-25.
Quarter scores 1 2 3 4 F
Westfall 12 5 25 12
Amanda-Clearcreek 2 10 4 9 25
