One team coming off a loss and another coming off a win met on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at Manchester High School as the Greyhounds entertained the Peebles Indians in a Southern Hill Athletic Conference match up. The Hounds were fresh off a win over New Boston in the Coach Young Classic while the Indians were still smarting from a loss on Saturday night to Portsmouth.

On Tuesday night, it was the Indians who bounced back better than the Hounds handled prosperity as the visitors in red controlled the action for most of the game, pulling away in the second half to post a 59-34 victory, improving to 11-2 on the year and dropping the Greyhounds to 4-10.

“I thought we forced some early shots and just kind of got ahead of ourselves,” said Peebles head coach Josh Arey. “When we are patient offensively and working for good shots, we can be pretty good but we went through moments in the first half where I thought we were a little impatient.”

“I thought we were good on the offensive glass tonight. Even with balls that we didn’t necessarily grab, we got our hands on and kept them alive and that’s big key for us to get those second chance opportunities. I thought tonight was also maybe our best defensive performance of the year.”

The contest was a tight one early as the Hounds got a three-pointer from big man Cole Pribble and another from Colton Thornburg to tie the game at 6. Peebles responded with a pair of Tyler Ryan free throws and a basket by Camron Gordley, forcing Manchester head coach Kyle Pertuset to burn a timeout. After the timeout, the Hounds masterfully handled the Peebles press for a Pribble layup, but another basket inside by Gordley and a three-pointer by Tanner Arey gave the Indians a 15-8 lead after the first eight minutes.

The two offenses slowed to a crawl in the second quarter, combining for just 12 points. All Peebles could muster in the entire eight minute span was another Arey trey, two Ethan Parrett free throws, and another bucket by Arey, while the Hounds got just a basket by Pribble and three points from Thornburg. A low-scoring first concluded with the visiting Indians holding a 22-13 advantage.

The Indians came out of the intermission with a new spirit, scoring the first six points of the third quarter to move in front 28-13 and force another Greyhound timeout. Out of the timeout, the Hounds got a three-pointer from Kaulen Cox and a pair of Thornburg free throws but the Indians closed out the period with a 6-2 run, fueled by two pretty moves and scores from Gordley, to lead 38-22 headed to the final period.

The Peebles roll continued into the fourth quarter, as they opened with baskets by Gordley on their first two possessions and a Parrett three to stretch the lead out to 45-24. The Indians continued on the warpath with a three-point play by Scout Kremin and a long three out of the corner by Jase Conley. Peebles outscored the Hounds 9-4 over the final three minutes of the game, getting two inside scores off the bench from Dillon Evans, to coast home with a 25-point win, 59-34.

The winning Indians (11-2, 6-0 SHAC) places a pair of players in double figures, led by Camron Gordley’s 18 points, followed closely by Tanner Arey with 16. On defense, the Indians were able to hold Manchester’s leading scorer Sean Frost scoreless for the game.

“Camron is a load to handle inside,” said Coach Arey. “He moves so well and attacks the offensive glass and when we’re able to get him the basketball, good things happen for us. We also got some more great contributions off our bench tonight.”

Manchester (4-10, 2-4 SHAC) was led in scoring by Colton Thornburg’s 15 points, with Cole Pribble adding 10.

Both teams were scheduled to be in action on Friday night, Jan. 22, with the Indians hosting West Union and the Greyhounds at Ripley, but the predicted snowstorm may put those games on hold. The Hounds will be at Fayetteville on Tuesday, Jan. 26, while the Indians have an SHAC showdown on the road with the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs.

PHS (59): Conley 1 0-0 3, Arey 7 0-0 16, Parrett 2 2-2 7, Kremin 3 1-3 7, Evans 2 0-0 4, Ryan 1 2-2 4, C. Gordley 9 0-0 18, Team 25 5-7 59.

MHS (34): Combs 0 2-2 2, Aldridge 0 2-2 2, Thornburg 5 4-6 15, Cox 2 0-0 5, Pribble 4 1-2 10, Team 11 9-12 34.

Three-Point Goals:

PHS- Conley 1, Arey 2, Parrett 1

MHS- Thornburg 1, Cox 1, Pribble 1

https://www.peoplesdefender.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_VarsityBoys1-1.jpgMark Carpenter | People’s Defender

https://www.peoplesdefender.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_VarsityBoys2-1.jpgMark Carpenter | People’s Defender
Gordley, Arey lead Peebles to 59-34 win

By Mark Carpenter

mcarpenter@civitasmedia.com

Reach Mark Carpenter at 937-544-2391 or on Twitter @adamscosports.