— By Taylor Kennedy
MADISON, W.Va. — The Scott Skyhawks snapped a four-game skid Friday by upending Cardinal Conference foe Herbert Hoover, 70-57. The Huskies’ 57 points were their second-lowest total this season.
Scott head coach Shawn Ballard thought his team’s depth was pivotal in allowing the Skyhawks to improve to 3-4.
“We played hard,” Ballard noted. “We are finally starting to get guys healthy. That was our best defensive effort of the year. We have the depth to play a pressure man-to-man style defense.
“It was nice having a full squad. Everyone is not 100 percent, but it is turning that way. To play that pressure style of defense, you have to have depth.”
Herbert Hoover (4-2) came into the game averaging 71 points in its four wins. Scott’s defense was flying around, which helped to hold the Huskies in check.
“We have great defenders,” Ballard said. “These are two evenly-matched teams. There is not a lot of size on either team so that allowed us to switch everything. They have great scorers, including the Hatfield brothers and Eli Robertson.
“With our depth and number of guards, we were able to switch some things and keep them contained.”
Scott was able to hold Devin and Dane Hatfield in check. The Hatfield brothers combined for 23 points, including a 15-point performance from Devin.
“It was a team game,” Ballard stated. “Everyone defended. They knew what we were trying to do defensively, and they went out there and executed.”
Skyhawks’ junior guard Reece Carden led all scorers with 24 points. He had been dealing with strep throat, and Ballard was pleased to see Carden perform at his usual level following a five-point performance against Poca.
“They did a good job containing him in the first half, but we got some good looks,” Ballard stated. “Finally in the second half, we got to the basket a little more. [Hoover] was coming out to guard our shooters, which opened up lanes for us to attack the lane.”
Scott senior Cavin White saw his first action this season, and he came off the bench to score 11 points.
“We feel like we have nine guys on our team that can be starters on most teams,” Ballard said. “We feel like we have great depth. There are nights, based on matchups, when certain guys will play more or less. All nine are capable of scoring the ball, and all nine are capable of defending at a high level.”
Scott’s Jaren Gaiter, Isaac Setser, and Braxton Dolin scored eight points each.
The Huskies were led by junior forward Eli Robertson’s 22-point performance, including 12 first-half points. Robertson went 9 of 10 from the free-throw line.
Herbert Hoover went 20 of 29 from the charity stripe. Scott converted on 10-of-22 free throws.