By Kyle Parmley
For The Trussville Tribune
TRUSSVILLE – The fourth quarter was the difference as Hewitt-Trussville knocked off Altamont 62-48 on Tuesday night at Bryant Bank Arena.
The Huskies (2-1) were unable to gain any separation on Altamont until the final quarter, as the game was tied at the end of the first and second quarters and Hewitt-Trussville only led by two after three quarters. It had to make a change.
“Coach (Bobby) Johns suggested that we go to a full-court press,” Hewitt-Trussville head coach Mike Dutton said. “We could not guard them man-to-man all night.”
The press allowed the Huskies the breathing room they needed, as Altamont turned the ball over time and time again in the backcourt due to the attacking defense. Hewitt-Trussville’s 10-man rotation consisting of two five-player platoons, a la Kentucky, reaped its benefits with a fresh team late in the game.
“There is a method to our madness,” Dutton said. “We want to fatigue our opponents early in the game so that we can win the game in the fourth quarter.”
Sean Elmore paced the Huskies with 25 points on the night to lead the team, scoring 10 each in the first and final frames. His five 3-point makes accounted for half the team’s contribution from deep. In a strange oddity, this is the second consecutive game that the leading scorer for Hewitt-Trussville has matched his jersey number in points (Harrison Stanley with 24 against Pinson Valley).
Altamont (1-2) was led by Jordan Daniels, who Dutton called a “very good player.” Daniels scored 13 points to join teammate Keegan Kariuki in double figures scoring. The Knights were bitten the most at the charity stripe, only converting 17-of-42 attempts from the free throw line.
Hewitt-Trussville returns to the floor Thursday, as it travels to take on Northridge.