Mikes outmuscle Pioneers
CARMICHAELS – Carmichaels played well offensively and defensively as the Mikes outshot and outmuscled the West Greene Pioneers, 75-46, in a Section 2-A contest at Carmichaels Friday night. Offensively, the Mikes made 32 shots from the field and played a smothering man-to-man defense, holding the Pioneers to 17.
“We moved the ball around well tonight and hit the open man,” Mikes coach Don Williams said. “Defensively, I thought we played with a lot of intensity. We played pretty well tonight. It was a total team effort.”
The Mikes scored every way they could by using the fast break, the muscle inside and perimeter shooting. Bobby Hathaway, who had a game high 34 points, and Colby Giles, who finished with 19, benefited from the transition game, while Hathaway scored inside and Giles scored outside.
“They had no one to match up with Bobby (Hathaway),” Williams said. “Our players realized that and got him the ball inside.”
Pioneers coach Ryan Crouse knew what he was in for, trying to match up with Hathaway. “We had Anderson on him the first game, and we thought we would try someone smaller and quicker. We couldn’t get the ball from him. He didn’t score all his points underneath. It’s also tough trying to stop him in the transition game. He runs the floor so well.”
Although the Mikes outscored the Pioneers, Crouse was happy with the way his team played. “Other than the two games against Carmichaels and the one against Wash High, we’ve been in every game this year. We’ve lost some close ones and these guys never quit.”
The Pioneers had three players in double figures. Cody Hildreth and Keith Ross each scored a team high 13, followed by sophomore Jacob Kerch with 11. “Kerch has been stepping up,” Crouse said. “He’s got good basketball sense and knows what’s going on.”
The Mikes opened the game, scoring the first two points on a Jono Menhart drive through the lane and never looked back. At one point in the quarter, Giles ran off seven straight points to give the Mikes an 11-3 lead. Hathaway also scored seven in the quarter.
The Mikes continued the scoring onslaught in the second quarter and went into the half leading 41-22.
Hathaway led the scoring in the quarter with 13 points, followed by Giles who hit six points on two three pointers.
Hathaway continued his scoring in the third, pouring in 12 points and giving the Mikes their biggest lead at 31 points with 1:03 remaining in the quarter.
The Pioneers finished the game by outscoring the Mikes 15-14 in the fourth quarter, led by Kerch who scored nine of his 11 points on the night to make the final 75-46.
The Mikes travel to Mapletown Tuesday.