In-rhythm Highlands tops Gateway behind Crise, Cochran
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Saturday, December 22, 2018 | 5:54 PM
After a sporadic schedule that had Highlands play just two games the first 11 days of the season, the Golden Rams have achieved more of a rhythm with three games in five days.
Highlands capped a busy week Saturday afternoon with a 65-49 victory over Gateway in a nonsection game at Henry Furrie Complex.
Junior Johnny Crise led the way with 21 points and 13 rebounds as the Golden Rams led wire-to-wire.
Luke Cochran had 20 points for a third consecutive game and hit 7 of 8 free throws in the fourth quarter. Korry Myers added 13 points, including four 3-pointers.
Highlands went over .500 for the first time this year, and Gateway slipped to 2-4 overall.
“I definitely think that playing games helped us get into a rhythm, and I think our guys responded well,” Golden Rams coach Tyler Stoczynski said. “And that was a positive.”
Gateway started all underclassmen, and its inexperience showed at times.
“We fought hard. We’ve got some young kids who are getting better,” first-year Gators coach Alvis Rogers said. “We did a lot of fouling, and there were mistakes here and there.”
Early in the second period, Crise scored off a midcourt steal and converted the free throw after a foul. Moments later, Cochran scored on an inbounds play near the Highlands hoop to give the Golden Rams a 27-16 lead with 3 minutes, 50 second left in half.
Highlands built its lead to 41-25 at the half, but the Gators came out firing in the third period. Three players accounted for 3-point baskets as Gateway finished the quarter with an 11-0 run.
Rogers, a former NBA draft pick by the Kansas City-Omaha Kings, encourages long-range shooting.
“I give them all the green light,” Rogers said. “If they’re open, they better shoot it. If they don’t shoot, they’re sitting beside me.”
One encouraging aspect for Highlands was a much better performance at the free-throw line.
After an 11-for-31 performance at Beaver Falls on Tuesday, the Golden Rams hit 21 of 28 from the line Saturday.
“Guys stepped up and made foul shots,” Stoczynski said. “That’s the crazy thing about basketball: You never know on any given night. Especially at the end of the game, we got the ball in Luke’s hands, and he’s someone you’d want to be at the free throw line.”
Cochran was one of the Golden Rams who practiced foul shooting during halftime of the junior varsity game, and the extra work paid off.
“They want to do better, and that’s the first key to success,” Stoczynski said. “You put in the effort, and good things will come.”
In a statistical anomaly, Highlands came into the game at 2-2, scoring 247 points and yielding 247 points.
“I think today epitomizes what we are that this point of the season,” said Stoczynski. “You can see how good we can be, while at other points you can see how much we still have to learn.”
After five games on the road, the Golden Rams will play at home for the first time this season Thursday against Burrell at 8 p.m. in the Highlands holiday tournament.
Valley will play Blackhawk at 6.
George Guido is a Tribune-Review staff writer.
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