Oct 20, 2002 By Kevin Harrison For The 4 min read

Laurel Highlands picked up a Section 2-AAA win Friday night as the Mustangs eased by Ringgold 75-34. The Mustangs (12-6, 6-1) were never threatened by the Rams (4-13, 0-7), which allowed Laurel Highlands coach Mark John to use his entire lineup, giving his bench some much needed playing time in the second half.

“This time of year you want your team clicking on about six of eight cylinders,” John said.

“Hopefully, in another week or so, the team will be clicking on all eight.”

The Mustangs broke the game open in the first quarter, breaking a 5-5 tie by going on an 11-0 run to open up a 16-5 lead. A.J. Swentosky started the run with a field goal, and Reilly followed with a basket to make the score 9-5. Nathan Forse came up with a basket, and then Craig Radcliffe added a basket and a three-pointer for the Mustangs.

Jimmy Stine scored for Ringgold to break up the run. Forse followed with another basket for LH, and then Mike Bossi scored for Ringgold to make the score 18-9.

Corey Nesser came off the bench for the Mustangs, scoring two baskets before Forse added another bucket to give the Mustangs a 24-9 lead after one.

“Laurel Highlands came out and hit some shots early,” Ringgold coach Phil Pergola said. “We weren’t scoring, and they started to move the ball up and down the floor.”

The Mustangs continued to pull away in the second quarter.

Ringgold opened with baskets from Robert Minnie and Ryan Bowker, but the Mustangs charged back with a three from Radcliffe and baskets from Nesser, Reilly and Forse to stretch their lead to 33-13.

Bowker hit another shot for the Rams, but LH came right back with a score from Reilly and a three from Tim Mahoney to open up a 38-15 lead.

The teams traded baskets until the end of the quarter with LH taking a 43-19 lead to the lockerroom at the half.

“I was real pleased with the unselfish play of my team, despite the score being a little lopsided,” John said. “They did a great job of playing within the framework of the offense, and no one got greedy.”

The Mustangs methodically controlled the game through the third quarter, getting six points from Forse, and treys from Radcliffe and Mahoney, outscoring the Rams 17-6 in the quarter to take a 60-25 lead after three.

“Laurel Highlands has a good team; they start five seniors,” Pergola said. “We start two juniors and a sophomore. We just weren’t able to match up with them physically.”

The Mustangs starters were pulled from the game with 5:52 left in the game, holding a 64-27 lead, allowing John an opportunity to get a good look at his reserves.

“Normally I don’t like to single out one kid, but Corey Nesser has given us great play off the bench,” John said. “I would like to find that seventh and eighth guy to give us the depth we will need later in the season.”

The reserves didn’t embarrass themselves. The score stood at 64-30, following a basket and a foul shot from Bossi.

Paul Briczinski scored two for LH. Brian John added two foul shots, and Briczinski came up with two more off a missed shot to give LH a 70-30 lead.

Troy Yonkers scored for Ringgold, but Andre Ramsey came back with a trey for LH to make the score 73-32. Following two foul shots by Yonkers, Tim Hirsh hit the Mustangs final points.

Nathan Forse led the Mustangs and all scorers with 18, and Radcliffe followed with 14.

“Craig is in his third year as a starter, and was responsible for running the offense and calling the defense,” John said. “This year I asked him to step up his scoring to give us more balance, and he is doing that.”

Jesse Hyatt was the only player to reach double figures for Ringgold with 11.