Prep basketball roundup: Hamilton Heights rallies to win at East Hamilton

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Hamilton Heights' Cam Andrews, left, and Bryson Andrews converge on East Hamilton's Ashton Munson during Wednesday night's game at East Hamilton.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Hamilton Heights' Cam Andrews, left, and Bryson Andrews converge on East Hamilton's Ashton Munson during Wednesday night's game at East Hamilton.

Bryson Andrews caught a crosscourt pass and delivered a dagger to close a 20-1 run in Hamilton Heights Christian Academy's 61-53 victory at East Hamilton on Wednesday night.

The 5-foot-10 sophomore made eight 3-pointers for all of his 24 points in the victory. The Memphis native entered the matchup of Chattanooga programs averaging more than four 3s a game while shooting at a nearly 50% clip.

"I have put in so much hard work just to get in the position I am today," Andrews said. "Every day I get a lot of reps in. I go to the gym and aim for 200 to 250 makes on 3s, so that's about 500 shots."

While Andrews is the smallest starter on coach Steve Cook's team, which includes 6-8 forward Jordann Dumont and 6-9 center Somto Cyril, the Hawks encourage him to keep letting his shots fly.

"I am grateful they give me the green light all the time," Andrews said. "On that last shot, I caught it deep in front of our sideline, and I could hear my coach behind me, telling me, 'Shoot it, shoot it, shoot it!'"

Dumont added 18 points and was tough down the stretch late on the drive, showing flashy moves on one occasion to go up and under for the layup. Champ Patterson hit a 3 to put the visitors ahead 54-51 and made a key steal on the ensuing possession to free Cam Andrews for a basket.

Hamilton Heights (7-9) fought back from a 50-41 deficit with 5:55 left to play in a game in which there were 21 3-pointers.

East Hamilton (12-9) was led by 6-8 senior Cade Pendleton, who scored 22 points and blocked three shots, and sophomore point guard Ashton Munson. Pendleton made five 3s and had a tip-in and a turnaround jumper in the third quarter to put the Hurricanes up 31-27 after a 16-0 run. Munson scored eight of his 16 points in the first three minutes of the fourth and made four 3s.

Zachariah Laboo added nine points and strong defense in the paint for the Hurricanes, who held the Hawks scoreless in a nine-minute stretch that ended with a dunk by the Hawks' Cyril, who also had a two-handed slam on a fast break in the decisive 20-1 run.

Brainerd boys 56, Ooltewah 51: Dennis Lewis Jr. stepped up with 17 points to help close out a contest that was tied headed into the fourth quarter. Deleon Petty led Ooltewah with 17 points, Keyshawn Corbin added 13 and Trey Laster scored 12. Joshua Hood and Donivon Thomas each had 10 for the Panthers, who scored 21 in the final period.

Ooltewah girls 64, Brainerd 17: Jordan McCullough scored 24 points, MacKenzi Bernier added 14 - including 10 in the second quarter - and Faith O'Donnell had 10 as the Lady Owls earned their 11th win.

Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.

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