Rebels pull away in 2H for road rout of Hornets

Richland (Essex) High School senior forward Eric Williams battles for a rebound against Advance on Monday at Advance High School.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

ADVANCE – There have been moments for the Advance High School varsity boys basketball squad this season where it showed its potential. That was the case on Monday against Class No. 8-ranked Richland (Essex). However, as it has been all season, sustaining that ability ultimately cost the Hornets, as the Rebels dominated 70-41 at Advance High School.

“In those moments,” second-year Advance coach Dalton Wilson said, “we are guarding really well. We’re sitting down and playing solid defense. We’re hustling.”

The Rebels (8-4) jumped out to a 9-0 lead before the Hornets (3-9) eventually got on the scoreboard. From that point forward through the remainder of the first half, it was a competitive ball game.

“We were running our (offensive) actions,” Wilson said. “We were running our stuff. We were playing together (and) making good decisions.”

The Rebels took a 36-22 lead into the second half and that is when Advance reverted to its struggling form, in large part, because the talented Rebels played to their potential.

Richland (Essex) outscored the hosts 26-4 in the third period, with senior forward Eric Williams tallying 10 points.

“In the second half we got a little better (defensively),” veteran Rebel coach Matt Cline said.

Monday’s game was indicative of the Hornets’ season, which has led to wins over Bell City (six wins), Meadow Heights (3-2), and Delta (five wins), but enough poor play that they have six double-digit defeats.

“In the second half,” Wilson lamented, “we came out and gave up. Richland is a good team, and they took advantage of that. We didn’t have any energy. I don’t know why.”

Richland (Essex) got offensive production from nine players in the victory, led by senior forward Tucker Hughes, who scored 20 points.

Williams chipped in 11 points, as did junior guard Hayden Conner.

Rebel senior guard Hunter Sanders added 10 points.

“We have the ability to guard,” Cline said of his team, which was playing its first game since falling to Risco in the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament on December 30. “We have to work on getting back (on defense) and getting tougher.

“We can guard. We can shut some people down.”

Advance was paced by junior guard Hunter Rodgers, who scored 12 points while Hornet seniors Brison Winchester and Remington Pixley each added six points, as did junior Morgan Swinford.

Advance will host St. Vincent today at 7:30 p.m.

Richland (Essex) will host Zalma (1-7) today at 7:30 p.m.