Chieftains get big 3rd quarter to drop Redskins, notch 900th program win

ARCADIA — It took Hopewell-Loudon a bit to get going offensively Friday in the season opener at Arcadia in the Rainey Memorial Classic.While the offense started a bit slow, the defensive pressure and effort was there all night.With the tall, lengthy Chieftains pressuring the Redskins, Arcadia only tallied 14 points at the half, but H-L just had a 25-14 advantage. After adjustments at the half and some football legs getting going underneath them, the Chieftains erupted for a 28-point third quarter on their way to a convincing 65-42 victory.It also happened to be the program's 900th win."We just talked about staying within our game plan, which was ball pressure, but from a good distance because we have such good length," H-L coach Roger Jury said. "Arcadia has a couple of really nice players and we got too close to them early on with our pressure. When we got that one really good run in the third it was Donovan (Elmore) at the point with pressure, played with his length six or seven feet away, and now they have to throw over him rather than stepping through or around. "We were aggressive and excited to play this first game, but we got a little too close and overran some things. We've had some scrimmages, but it was good to see the guys running up and down the floor, especially the football guys getting their basketball legs. Still not there yet and our shooting isn't there yet, but that was also better in the second half."H-L (1-0) did get off to a good start Friday with a 10-0 run as Blake Berrier and Elmore each had four points and Braylon Martinez hit a pair of free throws. Arcadia (0-1) battled to get back in it in the second quarter after trailing 19-6 early in the period. Koen Harris hit two baskets and Owen Rader made a layup to get within 22-12 midway through, but H-L's pressure defense hindered the Redskins enough to keep the Chieftains in front at the half. Arcadia had nine turnovers in the first half and finished with 21 for the game, and the third quarter had a lot to do with that."That's a team that was a few plays away from being in the regional semis last year," Arcadia coach Jordan Benson said of H-L. "It's a team that didn't lose a starter off of last year's team and we're a very young team and our youth showed a little bit in the third quarter with those turnovers, but my goal for these kids was to compete and I think we did that against a very good basketball team."I'm proud. We just have to watch film and clean up the turnovers in the third quarter. But that's stuff that is fixable, which is a good sign."H-L came out strong in the second half with a 13-2 run as Elmore and Berrier completed three-point plays, Martinez drilled a 3-pointer and Elmore put in a layup to shoot the Chieftains ahead 38-16 at the midway point. H-L tallied 28 points in the period, including 11 from Berrier."He has really good strength and a really good basketball IQ," Jury said of Berrier. "It all starts with whoever is on your point on offense or defense and Donovan was there and did a great job tonight. I thought everyone played well, but Blake played really well throughout most of the game."With a 53-26 lead after three quarters, H-L cruised in the fourth to take care of business. Berrier led H-L with 21 points, seven rebounds and six steals. It also got 15 points from Elmore, nine points and nine boards by Evan Kreais, eight points and three assists from Carter Yarbrough and seven points from Martinez."We have some things to work on, but I was glad to see them get after it and compete," Jury said. "Our ball movement was way better at the end of the game with two or three passes, but it takes a while to get there. We're happy these kids are so successful in their fall sports and this doesn't come over night with the transition (to basketball). I just liked how they responded tonight." Hopewell-Loudon 65, Arcadia 42H-L (1-0): Blake Berrier 7-6-21; Owen Suter 0-0-0; Austin Napier 0-0-0; Carter Yarbrough 3-0-8; Donovan Elmore 6-3-15; Braylon Martinez 2-2-7; Jack Colatruglio 1-0-2; Evan Kreais 4-1-9; Brayden Brickman 1-1-3; Matt Wyman 0-0-0; Wade Kreais 0-0-0; Luca SanGregory 0-0-0. Totals: 23-13-65.Arcadia (0-1): Isaac Stoner 1-0-3; Jacob Preble 0-0-0; Koen Harris 4-5-13; Owen Rader 7-0-14; Jacoby Ellis 3-0-7; Lamarion Tucker 1-0-3; Owen Green 0-3-3. Totals: 16-8-42.H-L 15 10 28 12 — 65Arcadia 6 8 12 16 — 42Field goals: H-L 24-58; Arcadia 16-39.3-point goals: H-L 4-11 (Yarbrough 2, Berrier, Martinez); Arcadia 2-9 (Stoner, Ellis).Foul shots: H-L 13-16; Arcadia 8-13.Rebounds: H-L 34 (E. Kreais 9); Arcadia 20.Turnovers: H-L 12; Arcadia 21.