26-0 run leads Morristown East past Northview Academy

Sophomore Kyle Cloninger gunned in 19 to lead the East attack with 18 of those coming in the opening quarter. Caleb Hall added 14 and Braden Ilic scored 11. Leading scorer Micah Simpson and Mason Smith had nine apiece and Tyson Frost scored eight.

In all, 13 players scored for the ‘Canes with seven different players hitting at least one three-point basket.

The Cougars, who are now 4-3 for the season, got 16 points from Richard Bell but no other player scored more than six.

East hit 18 of its 22 two-point field goal attempts in the first half. The Hurricanes scored several points in transition as their pressure forced the Cougars into numerous turnovers.

Simpson, who failed to score in double figures for the first time this season, missed his first seven attempts behind the arc but handed out several easy baskets with some great passes.

Collins said, “We played great team defense in the first quarter. Our kids are committed to scramble hard on defense and try and force turnovers. I thought we did a really good job of that.

“For the most part, we shot the ball well even with Micah not hitting outside,” he added. “But he found a way to contributed by playing good defense and making some great passes. Caleb was on the receiving end of several of those. They had a great connection.”

Collins went on to say, “Kyle stepped up offensively in the first quarter and knocked down a couple of big three’s. We got a lot of weapons and shot the ball well. I think we had seven three’s off the bench.”

Northview made its first three shots from the floor and led 6-4 after a bucket by Caden Swann with 6:06 left in the frame.

However, Cloninger put on an offensive show as he scored half the points as the Hurricanes closed the quarter with a 26-0 run to take total control. Ilic had seven and Hall four in the opening eight minutes.

Simpson, Cloninger, Ilic and Hall all had four in the second stanza and Mason Smith hit one of his three triples as East opened the margin to 53-22 at intermission. Bell scored six for the Cougars.

Hall had three baskets and Cloninger one and Simpson hit a three as East scored the first 11 of the third canto to lead 64-22. Carter Gilliam knocked down a three, Smith bagged two more and Tyson Frost added another in the last 3:11 of the period and East led 78-26 at the final rest stop.

Bell scored six in the fourth quarter when the visitors scored the first eight points to slice into the deficit. However, Daniel Holt hit a basket and Aiden Goins canned a triple as the ‘Canes closed the game with a 9-2 run.

East wound up shooting 57.8 percent on 37 of 64. The Hurricanes were 11 of 28 from long range. Northview shot 31.8 percent from the floor by making good on 14 of 44. The Cougars missed all 10 of their three-point attempts.

Ilic pulled down seven rebounds and Cloninger had five as East had a commanding 37-23 backboard advantage. Bell had seven rebounds for Northview.

Next up for East is a home game against West Ridge on Monday night.

SCORING

EAST(87)—Simpson 9, Cloninger 19, Ilic 11, Wright 1, Hall 14, Dougherty 2, Frost 8, Goins 5, Gilliam 3, Smith 9, Mink 2, Holt 2, Grizzell 2.

NORTHVIEW (36)—Weyant 6, Swann 2, Presnell 2, Bell 16, McGil 4, Haggard 4, Boivin 1, Hickman 1.