Kevin Henry felt Center Hill had something to prove, despite perfect record
Senior combo guard Kevin Henry felt like Center Hill wasn’t getting the respect it deserved. Henry felt like he was playing with a group of guys who were all about winning. But, before the Mustangs matchup against Whitehaven Tuesday night,…
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Continue ReadingSenior combo guard Kevin Henry felt like Center Hill wasn’t getting the respect it deserved. Henry felt like he was playing with a group of guys who were all about winning.
But, before the Mustangs matchup against Whitehaven Tuesday night, people didn’t seem to take the 11-0 record serious. In 10 of Center Hill’s first 11 wins, the Mustangs defeated their opponents by an average of 37.5 points. Center Hill had a little trouble with Madison Central, winning by only eight points (76-68) in the Oxford Turkey Classic.
But, the people watching the Mustangs felt they were undefeated because of a weak non-conference schedule. Center Hill’s non-conference opponents agreed to play the Mustangs and some of those games were finalized at the last minute. Center Hill head coach Newton Mealer tried to put together a tough non-conference schedule before league play kicks in at the top of 2019.
Mealer wanted to play Bartlett and Memphis East, but there was no room for those games to happen. He had to agree with other coaches for a game.
So, heading into the Whitehaven game, Henry and his teammates wanted respect. They wanted everyone to know they can compete with other high quality teams.
Henry, Calvin Temple, Decorian Payton, and Kenneth Lewis scored in double figures to help the Mustangs defeat the Tigers, 64-63 in front of a sold out crowd. Henry finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Temple added 15 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
“I know, for sure, others didn’t respect us before this big win, but I’m sure they will start to respect us,” Henry said. “We have been working too hard to become what we are, and it showed last night. I had a chip on my shoulder. Felt like I, along with my teammates, had something to prove to a lot of people who have been doubting us.”
Whitehaven doubled team Temple each time he touched the basketball, but Henry, Lewis, and Braxton Morris stepped up when had to get rid of the basketball. Lewis added 15 points, four steals, three assists, and two rebounds. Henry scored five straight points to help Center Hill build a 26-17 lead in the second quarter.
Lewis drained three-consecutive 3-pointers to keep the Mustangs in the game after the Tigers built a 51-43 lead early in the fourth quarter. Defensively, Center Hill did a good job on 7-foot-4 post player Jordan Wilmore, holding him to just five points and getting him in foul trouble early. He had to play with four fouls in the fourth.
This was the Mustangs’ biggest non-league game, and Center Hill realized a win over Whitehaven would be a confidence booster moving forward.
“It was a very important win for Center Hill, because it showed people that we are one of the top teams in the area, and that we can compete with the top teams, too.”