Spencer takes Hubs higher

January 16, 2009|By JACK HILL III/Staff Correspondent

SMITHSBURG -- The North Hagerstown Hubs were hitting on all cylinders as they ran over the Smithsburg Leopards 62-49 in a boys basketball game Friday night.

Senior Tyler Spencer had a game-high 19 points to go along with eight rebounds and four steals.

"We played together as a team," Spencer said. "We came out and got on top early. We maintained the lead. We wanted to maintain our focus and our intensity. The coach is always telling the seniors to step up and take control. We are a real senior-oriented team. If we continue to play together as a team, then we will improve. I feel that our team has a good bit of potential."

Brent Bell collected 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Joe Mattei had 10 points and three blocked shots for the Hubs (6-5). Allen Sandberg dished off 10 assists and Mike Rivas grabbed seven rebounds for the Hubs.

The first quarter was a battle as North Hagerstown held a 17-13 lead over Smithsburg (2-8) at the end of the first quarter.

The Hubs outscored the Leopards 10-4 in the second quarter to extend their lead to a 27-17 halftime advantage. Spencer had four of the Hubs' 10 points in the period.

"We just played better defense in the second quarter and we boxed out to keep their size off of the boards," North coach Kevin Hartman said. "We shot the ball well. We were able to push the ball up the court in transition. I thought that we passed it well the entire game. We need to play defense and take care of the ball to offset our lack of height and depth."

North led by at least eight points the entire second half.

Josh Conway had 12 points, five steals and four assists for Smithsburg.

Alan Reed got 10 points and Kyle Orndorff pulled down seven rebounds for the Leopards.

"I thought that we got some turnover problems, especially in the second quarter," Smithsburg coach Eric Gerber said. "That allowed them to get out and extend their lead. I also thought that North was a lot more active than we were tonight. They got their hands on the passes. They were quicker than us to the balls off the glass. I thought that they played pretty well and deserved to win the game."

Gerber knows that his team has definitely got some things to work on.

"We have to continue to try to execute offensively," Gerber added. "We have to stay away from those bad quarters where we only score four or six points."

North Hagerstown also won the JV game by pulling out a 61-59 victory.

North Hagerstown 62, Smithsburg 49
NORTH HAGERSTOWN (6-5)
Sandberg 5, Spencer 19, Nelson 6, Rivas 6, Bell 16, Mattei 10. Totals 24 11-17 62.
SMITHSBURG (2-8)
Conway 12, Orndorff 6, Kretzer 3, Shives 8, Shroyer 4, Reed 10, Schwartz 3, Dinterman 3. Totals 19 5-10 49.
North 17 10 15 20 -- 62
Smithsburg 13 4 14 18 -- 49
3-point goals -- North 3 (Sandberg, Mattei 2), Smithsburg 6 (Conway 2, Kretzer, Shives 2, Schwartz). JV -- North, 61-59 (N: Max Psillas 18; S: Ryan Willard, Dylan Eyler 12 each).

|

|

|