Center Hill grinds out win over Whitehaven to remain undefeated
Center Hill was battle tested for the first time this season when Whitehaven had the Mustangs against the ropes, down 51-43 in the third quarter. Junior guard Matthew Murrell had come alive for the Tigers, scoring 15 points in the…
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Continue ReadingCenter Hill was battle tested for the first time this season when Whitehaven had the Mustangs against the ropes, down 51-43 in the third quarter.
Junior guard Matthew Murrell had come alive for the Tigers, scoring 15 points in the first portion of the third quarter to put Whitehaven ahead. Center Hill was in a situation it had never been in until now, staring at a deficit, so how would the Mustangs handle a deficit?
They handled it with composure.
Stifling defense, plus some clutch shots down the stretch from players not named Calvin Temple went in, and Center Hill rallied back to defeat Whitehaven, 64-63 to stay perfect (12-0). This was a statement win for Newton Mealer’s team, which proved his group can play with the best of them.
“We had this one pinpointed, because now people can’t say we didn’t play somebody,” Mealer said. “Now, people can’t say that Center Hill isn’t a good basketball team.”
Temple saw double teams for the entire game. The Tigers (7-2) forced his teammates to make shots, and they did. Senior guard Kenneth Lewis was one of them. He made 3 straight 3s to pull the Mustangs within two (54-52).
Lewis started in front of senior guard Cameron Goodwin, who agreed with coach Mealer to come off the bench in order to better the team’s chances of winning.
“Not only did he attack, attack, attack, but when they wanted to double Calvin, he made a three, after three, after three, after three and got us rolling,” Mealer said about Lewis, who finished with 15 points, four steals, three assists, and two rebounds.
Facing a four-point deficit in the fourth quarter following Alvin Miles’ two made foul shots, junior forward Decorian Payton and Temple took over on offense. Payton scored a layup over 7-foot-4 post player Jordan Wilmore, then Temple made four straight free throws. Senior point guard Kevin Henry scored to give the Mustangs the 60-56 lead.
But, the game wasn’t over yet.
Wilmore made a layup, then Murrell got a fast break dunk that gave the home crowd pause for concern. On Center Hill’s next offensive possession, Payton attacked and finished over Wilmore for the 62-60 lead. Whitehaven coach Faragi Phillips called timeout to set up a play to either tie the game or win it.
Two of the Tigers’ most important players, Murrell and Wilmore, were playing with four fouls, but both were on the floor where the team needed them to be. A play was drawn up for Murrell to catch the basketball off a ball screen on the wing. With two defenders in his face, Murrell was able to get a good look at the basket, but the basketball barely scratched the front of the rim.
Temple, who made 9 of 12 from the free throw line, made his final two free throws to seal it. Temple finished with 15 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
“I don’t care if you double or triple team him, he still goes to get the ball. He doesn’t shy away. He wants it,” Mealer said. “As a matter of fact, I think that gives him even more of a dog in him of ‘Y’all still think y’all are still going to stop me?’”
Murrell led Whitehaven with 25 points. Simmie Jones III added 14. The Tigers can’t sit around and talk about this loss, because they have to get ready to play in another big game Thursday night, this time against Memphis East.
Trash talk
Payton exchanged words with Wilmore after he came down with the rebound in the third quarter. Payton wrapped his arms around the ball, hoping the referees would call jump ball. Instead, Payton was called for the foul. He and Wilmore got into a quick trash talk battle, and Payton was hit with a technical foul. Wilmore made 1 of 2 shots from the line. At that point, Center Hill led 39-37.
“There was no fear in Decorian Payton,” Mealer said. “He wanted the matchup. There was a lot of trash talking, and that is why he got the technical foul, because he walked up and he said ‘Not in my house. I’m right here.’ It was a good matchup between those two guys.”
Payton finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
3 takeaways
- Tuesday night marked just the second time this season Center Hill has scored under 70 points in a game.
- There were a lot of college scouts in attendance to watch the game. IUPUI offered sophomore forward Kaeden Laws of the Mustangs. Lemoyne-Owen College offered Kevin Henry. Henry added 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals in the win.
- Whitehaven made nine 3s in the game. Murrell made five of the nine 3-pointers.