by JOHN HOWLEY / sportingpumpkin.com
Minford had a quick start in Wednesday’s matchup to grab an early lead on the way to handing Westfall its first loss of the season 68-54 in the early game at Circleville’s Holiday Classic.
“We knew coming into it they were a good team and were off to a good start this year. And they had a ton of success last year and good players. We knew it was going to be a good measuring stick,” Westfall coach Kyle Joseph said. “The other part, coming out right after Christmas, I didn’t like the way we came out in the first half with a lack of energy and let them slow us down.
“I gave our guys four days off and was afraid this might happen, but it was with it in mind that we’re trying to play our best come February and March. It was a good measuring stick for us, to see a high-level team and learn from it.”
The Falcons (7-1) were led by their junior duo of Myles Montgomery and Bennet Kayser.
Montgomery, co-Southeast District Player of the Year last season, had 26 points and six rebounds, and Kayser, a second team all-district selection, had 16 points and eight rebounds.
They combined for 12 points in the first quarter as the Falcons got out to a 19-11 lead.
The Minford lead was 35-17 by halftime.
Westfall senior Brody Clark had 11 of his game-high 27 points in the third quarter as the Mustangs were able to trim five points off the Minford advantage to make the score 48-35 heading into the fourth.
Westfall could get no closer than 12 in the fourth quarter.
Joe Wray added 14 for the Mustangs.
Troy Rhodes kicked in 12 for the Falcons.
Westfall (6-1) returns to Circleville Friday night to take on the Tigers as the Holiday Classic continues. The Tigers were 64-45 winners over Paint Valley in the second game Wednesday.
“We’ll do what we can to get ready tomorrow, but our big thing is always to handle ourselves the best we can,” Joseph said.
Minford 68, Westfall 54
Minford— Troy Rhodes 5-0-12, Kade Glockner 1-0-2, Myles Montgomery 8-8-26, Jeff Pica 1-3-5, Jack Shoemaker 2-3-7, Bennett Kayser 7-2-16. Three-point goals — Rhodes (2), Montgomery (2). Total — 24-42 16-25 68
Westfall — Brody Clark 10-2-27, Joe Wray 5-2-14, Bryan Craig 1-0-2, Brydan Gall 2-0-5, Henry Barnes 2-0-4, Jerry Layton 1-0-2. Three-point goals — Clark (5), Wray (2), Gall. Total — 21-53 4-8 54.
Quarter scores 1 2 3 4 F
Minford 19 16 13 20 68
Westfall 11 6 18 19 54
