INDIANAPOLIS — Riding defensive intensity and big runs, the Danville boys’ basketball team defeated host Covenant Christian 65-51 Thursday night.
“It was a good team effort,” Danville coach Brian Barber said. “We were able to do the right things there at the end and it was a good road win.”
Danville (7-1) began the game on a 9-1 run. In addition, the Warriors went on a 12-5 run to close the first half and claim a 36-19 half-time advantage over Covenant Christian (3-4).
After falling behind by as many as 20 points, Covenant Christian went on a 15-4 run of its own to close the third period, cutting the deficit to eight at 46-38.
“At half-time, we were down 17 and the theme was to fight,” Covenant Christian coach Scott Flatt said. “We have quit in some games and tonight was the first time that we didn’t quit ... The takeaway from this game is that we finally came out and fought.”
However, eight points was as close as Covenant Christian would get, as Danville knocked down some key shots and free throws down the stretch.
“I thought we did a nice job down the stretch of making the extra pass, and being aggressive and patient, which is sometimes hard to do,” Barber said. “I thought our press did a lot for us tonight and kind of fed us.”
Ian Asher led the way for Danville with 13 points. Avery Motes scored 11 points, while Scott Amor chipped in 10.
“It was a total team effort,” Barber said. “We ended up playing 10 guys tonight and everybody chipped in. There in the second quarter, (D.J.) Shipley came in and hit some big shots for us. I thought Ian (Asher) did a good job of finding people when they were open.”
Jarek Brents led Covenant Christian with a double-double, finishing with a game-high 22 points and 17 rebounds. Kenton Hipsher added 10.
“(Brents) is an effort kid,” Flatt said. “He goes all-out all of the time and we need that. We have to have him rebounding and we have to have him scoring down low. He has been a catalyst for us inside. Jarek really picked us up tonight and got some rebounds when we had to have them.”
Barber said he was also impressed with Covenant’s interior play.
“They really hurt us inside,” he said. “Their big guys — Brents and Hipsher — they’re very active in there. They’re probably the most active that we’ve seen all year, at least up to now. They hurt us tonight on some rebounds and those kinds of things.”
Flatt said Covenant Christian is finishing the toughest stretch of its schedule with Park Tudor, Chatard, and Danville. Covenant Christian will look to rebound from the loss when it battles Indianapolis Marshall Dec. 29 in the Scott Bostick Tournament.
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