3 takeaways from Houston’s win over Center Hill
Houston needed its most valuable player to give the team a boost offensively. And junior point guard T.J. Madlock did just that. Madlock scored 17 of his team-leading 19 points in the second half to give the Mustangs the 71-61…
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Continue ReadingHouston needed its most valuable player to give the team a boost offensively.
And junior point guard T.J. Madlock did just that. Madlock scored 17 of his team-leading 19 points in the second half to give the Mustangs the 71-61 win over the Mustangs of Center Hill.
Without Madlock, his team doesn’t get a signature road win over the defending MHSAA 5A state champions. Houston had to overcome foul trouble to get the win.
As for Center Hill, head coach Newton Mealer’s team had its chances, but couldn’t capitalize on its opportunities.
This was a competitive matchup from start to finish, so here are my three takeaways from Tuesday night:
It’s obvious that T.J. Madlock is very important to Houston’s success
Junior wing Mason Miller, who’s 6-foot-8 ½, is a solid player. There’s no denying that, but the Mustangs will go as far as T.J. Madlock takes them. The game was knotted 29-all at halftime after Houston went on a 10-3 run to tie the game up. Then, Madlock let loose in the third quarter, scoring 12 points to give his team the 51-43 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Senior big man Faizon Fields was the only other player to score for the Mustangs (6-1) in the third quarter. He had 10 points. Madlock kept his foot on the gas in the final eight minutes, going 5 for 6 from the free throw line. He controlled the pace of the game each time he had the basketball in his hands. Madlock knew when to attack the basket or when to take the mid-range jump shot.
His 19 points were very important, especially since junior combo guard Alden Applewhite had a rough night, scoring just six points while playing a bulk of the fourth quarter with four fouls. Junior wing Zander Yates fouled out with 5:29 left in the fourth quarter, finishing the night with just seven points. Miller managed to score 14 points, but without Madlock, head coach Charlie Leonard’s team doesn’t leave Olive Branch, Mississippi with a win.
Center Hill had it chances
Center Hill was down 16-6 heading into the second quarter and climbed back to take a 26-19 lead. The Mustangs were down 51-43 entering the fourth quarter, but ended up tying the game at 57-all with about two minutes to go in the game. Mealer’s team, as always, fought to the very end.
But this one will probably sting for a while, since Mealer and his players knew they could have won Tuesday night. Center Hill didn’t help its cause by going 6 for 25 from the 3-point line and making just 19 of 29 free throws. Senior forward Decorian Payton did his part, scoring a game-high 20 points and pulling down 16 rebounds. He went 8 for 9 from the free throw line, but junior wing Kaeden Laws scored just five points and fouled out with 3:50 left in the game when it was still a two-point game. As a team, shots didn’t fall and the Mustangs allowed Madlock to get going in the third quarter after containing him in the first half.
Free throw shooting was the main difference maker
Houston made 19 of 25 free throws. Madlock went 10 for 12 from the line by himself. Center Hill (8-3) went 19 for 29 from the charity stripe. Payton was 8 for 9 from the line by himself. Mealer’s team split free throws six times Tuesday night. Laws had a chance to put Center Hill up by one with under four minutes to go, but missed the first free throw. The Mustangs of Houston made the best of their opportunities at the line.