"We shot the ball well and we were intense on defense," Brown said. "That's our secret. This team can use good halfcourt execution that can really break down a defense."
HCC took control of the exhibition in the final 10 minutes of the first half. That's where the Hawks had Sweden looking for a sauna and the point guard tandem of Branham and Bayi Handy took over.
Arvika scratched to within 23-20 until Handy and Branham scored 15 of HCC's next 18 points to stake the Hawks to a 41-25 lead. HCC was on its way to a 55-30 halftime lead by holding Sweden to seven foul shots and no baskets in the last 9:14 of the half.
"Our point guards and 2s (shooting guards) played well, but we expect them to," Brown said. "My biggest surprise is how well the inside guys played. They held their own, but they will get better."
HCC placed six players in double figures, led by Brandon DeShields with 16 points while Jerome Goodman, Corey Tabron and Dominic Crutchfield finished with 14 each. Sweden's Shon Crosby led all scorers with 31 points.
"That team lost to a Division I team (Loyola of Baltimore) by only 20 points (Thursday)," Brown said. "We weren't running up the score. It pleases me that we were able to do this."
HCC 120, Sweden 67
ARVIKA SWEDISH NATIONAL (67)
Back 2 2-5 7, Jensen 1 4-7 7, Sotterman 0 0-2 0, Steffansson 1 0-0 3, Crosby 9 10-14 31, Terning 2 0-2 4, Lindahl 0 1-2 1, Larsson 0 1-2 1, Knutsson 3 1-2 7, Viklund 2 2-7 6. Totals 20 21-43 67.
HAGERSTOWN JR. COLLEGE (120)
Tabron 5 2-4 14, Crutchfield 5 2-2 14, Branham 5 0-0 12, Handy 3 3-4 9, DeShields 6 1-2 16, Gause 4 1-2 10, Jenning 2 2-3 6, McKnight 2 0-0 4, Goodman 7 0-1 14, Gaddy 3 0-0 6, Brennan 1 0-0 2, Lumpkin 1 0-0 2, Hoffman 1 0-0 3, Showers 3 2-2 8. Totals 48 13-20 120.
Halftime - HCC 55, Sweden 30. Three-point goals - Sweden 6 (Crosby 3, Steffansson, Jensen, Back), HCC 11 (DeShields 3, Tabron 2, Crutchfield 2, Branham 2, Gause, Hoffman). Fouled out - Hoffman.
