Undermanned Williamston Gets Road Win Over Everett
Tuesday night was a prime example of why games are not played on paper.
Williamston entered into a CAAC Blue-White crossover game as the road team on a seven game winning streak and ranked just outside the top 10 in the state. Meanwhile, Everett had lost their last five straight games and were looking for their first win in three weeks.
Williamston still won the game 60-58, but it took a gutty effort from literally everybody who was healthy for the Hornets.
Prior to the game Williamston head coach Tom Lewis said he was down Sean Cobb, Stephen Hunt, Case Conley and Tyler Porrell, and that Caleb Smith was questionable. Smith would end up not playing in this game, meaning Brandon Hunt (younger brother of Stephen) would see time in this game being called up from JV.
Meanwhile K.C. Keyton's strategy early was to wear down Williamston's depleted bench with size and speed. A 6-0 Everett run to start the game featured Dominique Davidson heavily, and a full court press that Williamston had no answer for until a Tom Lewis timeout.
Out of that timeout the Hornets responded with a 6-0 run of their own and it was game on from there.
Dominique Davidson was a thorn in Williamston's side all game long as he put a strong double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds. Eight of those rebounds came from the offensive glass. Williamston as a team secured just seven offensive rebounds.
With over half of his starting teammates out of this game Cole Kleiver took the reins as the Hornets' primary offensive threat. He scored 32 points in the game and went 10-18 in the game's final three quarters.
No team had a lead of more than seven points throughout the game. Despite being able to rotate between seven different players the Hornets were able to keep up with the Vikigns punch for punch to secure the win.
Kleiver scored the game's final points on a scoop shot layup with two seconds left in the contest. Everett thought they had the game tied after a 3/4 court shot was sent short by Albert Mask and the rebound was put back in before the buzzer, however referees correctly ruled that the clock did not start on time and that the initial shot from Mask took more than two seconds before it went through the hoop on the put back
Williamston is now 13-2 on the season, winning their 8th straight game. Everett falls to 5-9 and ave dropped six straight.
Team Stats:
Williamston | STAT | Everett |
---|---|---|
60 | Points | 58 |
23 (7) | Rebounds (Off) | 35 (17) |
8 | Assists | 12 |
47.9 (23-48) | FG% | 41.2 (26-63) |
33.3 (7-21) | 3pt% | 22.2 (4-18) |
77.8 (7-9) | FT% | 66.7 (4-6) |
6 | Steals | 9 |
6 | Blocks | 2 |
16 | Turnovers | 18 |
Individual Stats:
Cole Kleiver (WHS): 32 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks
Joseph Hahnenberg (WHS): 10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks
Trevor Fortin (WHS): 7 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks
Dominique Davidson (EVE): 19 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block
Shamar Howard (EVE): 13 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
Albert Mask (EVE): 7 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals