MEN’S BASKETBALL

Despite a slow start, the #RV HU men’s basketball team chalked up its second straight league win Saturday afternoon at Platt Arena with an 81-69 W over Grace. Huntington’s overall record stands at 9-3 which includes a 2-2 CL record.

GC jumped out to a 15-6 lead within the first seven minutes but a quick timeout by the hosts got Platt’s crew on track. Three threes by three different Foresters made up the bulk of a 15-4 run that turned into HU’s first advantage of the day at 21-19 with nine minutes left in the half.

By halftime, it was a 33-33 stalemate. The first 60 seconds of the second period saw the lead toggle back and forth before things deadlocked a fourth and final time after which Huntington took charge. A Caleb Middlesworth bucket at the 17:09 mark gave HU a permanent lead at 40-38.

Huntington stretched their advantage to double figures a handful of times the rest of the way but Grace stayed within striking distance which included closing to within 74-68 with just under two minutes to go. It would get no closer as free throws down the stretch insured the Forester win with the final score proving the largest discrepancy of the day.

A 6-8 big man who can muscle his way down low and then knock down a step back three the next trip down the floor is hard to defend and that’s what the Lancers learned firsthand in trying to defend senior Tyler Arens. Arens finished with a career-best 36 points which included draining five of his team’s 12 long balls. He also pulled down six rebounds and handed out a pair of dimes.

Grace also had a hard time keeping track of Konner Platt who drained four threes on his way to pouring in 20 points. Together the HU duo accounted for nearly 70 percent of their team’s offense.

Defensively, Huntington kept their visitors in check by holding them to over 20 points below their season average. Haden Deaton paced the Lancers with 28 points while Charlie Warner added 14. Jaret Sons recorded eight points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.

The Foresters are 6-1 when playing on their home turf. They are back in the friendly confines of Platt Arena on Wednesday to host #5 Marian at 7:00 p.m.