HPCA boys fight past Westchester
Michael Lindsay | Enterprise Sports Writer Jan 29, 2021 Updated 6 hrs ago
HIGH POINT — High Point Christian worked its way through a little different look but came away with a good result.
The Cougars, spreading out playing time throughout their lineup, recovered well after a bit of a slow start to beat crosstown rival Westchester Country Day 86-62 in NCISAA PTAC boys basketball Friday in Westchester’s Brooks Gymnasium.
“We wanted to play well tonight, and we have a big one tomorrow,” HPCA coach Joseph Cooper said. “So, some different guys had some different opportunities tonight. And some guys really stepped up. I was proud of our senior Jonathan Medlin playing some big minutes and Cosie having 15 points, knocking down some shots, playing some defense and moving the ball.
“It was really our defense,” he said of the difference from early in the game to late. “They were getting whatever they wanted to begin the game. We were just going basket for basket. And I thought our defensive intensity stepped up a little bit, and we stopped reaching with our hands — we were a step slow at the start of the game. So, that was really a priority moving forward.”
Isaiah Sanders scored 17 points to lead the Cougars (12-6 overall, 3-2 PTAC), who, with a notable game against Lake Norman Christian today, began the game with an entirely different starting lineup. Cosie Pagano added 15 points, followed by Ethan Smith with 13 points and Myles Archie with 11 points.
“We did start off slow — we did have a new five out there,” said Pagano, a senior guard. “We did this thing in practice where whoever hustled and rebounded the most would get the start for Friday night. And that’s who started the game. So, none of us had really played together. But we kicked it off in the second half with the starting five in and we started working together as a team.”
Westchester, hitting shots from outside and getting to the basket, fared well early — leading by five midway through the opening quarter. And the teams remained close halfway through the second. But HPCA went on an 11-2 run to lead by nine with 1:28 left in the quarter and held a 44-35 lead at halftime.
The Cougars then opened the second half on an 11-1 run to lead by 19 midway through the third. Their lead peaked at 29 midway through the fourth.
“It really opens up a lot of options,” Pagano said of other guys stepping up. “Because when teams look at us, they’re just like: K.J. (Garrett), Ethan, Thomas (McIntosh) — those are the guys. And then we have more guys scoring at four, five, six, seven, eight, then you have a lot of options there. And you’ve got to guard us differently.
“I think it gives the starters a lot of confidence. They can fall back and know that they don’t have to play as good as they do every night. They can rely on their teammates to help them out.”
Myles Patterson scored 13 points to lead the Wildcats (4-6, 1-3), who are still getting up to speed — amid a difficult conference schedule that includes bigger schools — following a lengthy break in late December and early January. Jacob Johnson added 12 points, while Griffin Powell chipped in 11 points.
“I just told my guys, ‘We’re going to go out and play with energy and effort,’ ” Westchester coach Brook Patterson said. “That’s what we’re building around. They’re obviously very talented, very athletic and have a lot of size. But we won on Tuesday (against Caldwell) and had really great effort tonight.
“And, really, that’s what we’re building on. Our message to our guys was: Hey, this was a hard game, but our effort was there. In the third quarter our legs got really tired, and we started missing some shots. We haven’t had the conditioning we’d normally have at this time of the year, being off so long.
“But, that being said, our effort was still there. So, going into next week, in which we play three games against two good teams, it’ll be tough. But we’re just trying to slowly build. We’re trying to keep getting better, keep getting our cardio up. So, we’re trying to get in shape.”
HPCA plays this afternoon against Lake Norman Christian, featuring highly touted recruit Mikey Williams. The girls game will start at 1. The Wildcats will next play back-to-back games against Calvary Day — playing Monday at Calvary and Tuesday at Westchester.
mlindsay@hpenews.com | 336-888-3526 | @HPEmichael
Michael Lindsay | Enterprise Sports Writer Jan 29, 2021 Updated 6 hrs ago
HIGH POINT — High Point Christian worked its way through a little different look but came away with a good result.
The Cougars, spreading out playing time throughout their lineup, recovered well after a bit of a slow start to beat crosstown rival Westchester Country Day 86-62 in NCISAA PTAC boys basketball Friday in Westchester’s Brooks Gymnasium.
“We wanted to play well tonight, and we have a big one tomorrow,” HPCA coach Joseph Cooper said. “So, some different guys had some different opportunities tonight. And some guys really stepped up. I was proud of our senior Jonathan Medlin playing some big minutes and Cosie having 15 points, knocking down some shots, playing some defense and moving the ball.
“It was really our defense,” he said of the difference from early in the game to late. “They were getting whatever they wanted to begin the game. We were just going basket for basket. And I thought our defensive intensity stepped up a little bit, and we stopped reaching with our hands — we were a step slow at the start of the game. So, that was really a priority moving forward.”
Isaiah Sanders scored 17 points to lead the Cougars (12-6 overall, 3-2 PTAC), who, with a notable game against Lake Norman Christian today, began the game with an entirely different starting lineup. Cosie Pagano added 15 points, followed by Ethan Smith with 13 points and Myles Archie with 11 points.
“We did start off slow — we did have a new five out there,” said Pagano, a senior guard. “We did this thing in practice where whoever hustled and rebounded the most would get the start for Friday night. And that’s who started the game. So, none of us had really played together. But we kicked it off in the second half with the starting five in and we started working together as a team.”
Westchester, hitting shots from outside and getting to the basket, fared well early — leading by five midway through the opening quarter. And the teams remained close halfway through the second. But HPCA went on an 11-2 run to lead by nine with 1:28 left in the quarter and held a 44-35 lead at halftime.
The Cougars then opened the second half on an 11-1 run to lead by 19 midway through the third. Their lead peaked at 29 midway through the fourth.
“It really opens up a lot of options,” Pagano said of other guys stepping up. “Because when teams look at us, they’re just like: K.J. (Garrett), Ethan, Thomas (McIntosh) — those are the guys. And then we have more guys scoring at four, five, six, seven, eight, then you have a lot of options there. And you’ve got to guard us differently.
“I think it gives the starters a lot of confidence. They can fall back and know that they don’t have to play as good as they do every night. They can rely on their teammates to help them out.”
Myles Patterson scored 13 points to lead the Wildcats (4-6, 1-3), who are still getting up to speed — amid a difficult conference schedule that includes bigger schools — following a lengthy break in late December and early January. Jacob Johnson added 12 points, while Griffin Powell chipped in 11 points.
“I just told my guys, ‘We’re going to go out and play with energy and effort,’ ” Westchester coach Brook Patterson said. “That’s what we’re building around. They’re obviously very talented, very athletic and have a lot of size. But we won on Tuesday (against Caldwell) and had really great effort tonight.
“And, really, that’s what we’re building on. Our message to our guys was: Hey, this was a hard game, but our effort was there. In the third quarter our legs got really tired, and we started missing some shots. We haven’t had the conditioning we’d normally have at this time of the year, being off so long.
“But, that being said, our effort was still there. So, going into next week, in which we play three games against two good teams, it’ll be tough. But we’re just trying to slowly build. We’re trying to keep getting better, keep getting our cardio up. So, we’re trying to get in shape.”
HPCA plays this afternoon against Lake Norman Christian, featuring highly touted recruit Mikey Williams. The girls game will start at 1. The Wildcats will next play back-to-back games against Calvary Day — playing Monday at Calvary and Tuesday at Westchester.
mlindsay@hpenews.com | 336-888-3526 | @HPEmichael
