By Bobby Mathews, Sports Editor
CHELSEA — A first-quarter adjustment allowed the Chelsea Hornets to steal momentum and race out to a 14-10 lead with 1:17 remaining in the first quarter, and Clay-Chalkville couldn’t catch up after that. The Cougars fell 61-54 here on Friday, December 10, 2021.
Trailing 16-10 at the end of the first quarter, Clay-Chalkville allowed the Hornets to extend the lead 10 with 6:43 remaining in the half, and then watched as Chelsea went up 30-16 with around three minutes left until the break.
Clay-Chalkville fought back to get within seven points at the break, as the teams went into the locker rooms with Chelsea up 35-28.
Devon McKinnon banged a three to bring the game to 38-33 in the second half, then scored in the lane to get within three points, 38-35.
McKinnon stole the ball and fed Cedric Dixon with an outlet pass that allowed Dixon to lay the ball in, and Clay-Chalkville was within a point, 38-37.
“The style we play, we’re always in the game,” said Cougars head coach Chris Richardson. “We’re always ready to make an 8- to 10-point run because we play fast. The up-tempo allows us to always be in the game. I’m upset because we’re still making bad plays, bad turnovers to where we don’t get shots, to where we’re just throwing it out of bounds … not getting better, not being detailed. We have to get better on that stuff.”
A double technical foul, on Chelsea’s Avery Futch and Clay-Chalkville’s Devin Finley broke whatever momentum Clay-Chalkville had, and the Hornets stormed back out to an eight-point lead. With two minutes to go, it was a five-point game, with Clay-Chalkville trailing 54-49 after Kevin Kirk hit a three-pointer for the Cougars.
Senior guard Jaylen Hudson, who opened the scoring for Clay-Chalkville, fouled out with 19.1 seconds left to play in the game.
Dixon led Clay-Chalkville with 16 points, while Hudson added 15. Tiawan Hardy had 10 for the Cougars. On the defensive end, Cordae Averette had four monster blocks, swatting the ball away from shooters and changing the way Chelsea attacked from the perimeter.
Chelsea’s Futch led all scorers with 23, while Paul Lamzi poured in 17. Aiden Owens had 11 for Chelsea.
The Cougars and Hornets met to start the Cougars’ season, and Friday’s matchup meant a little revenge for Chelsea. The Cougars whipped the Hornets back on November 9 in overtime, 63-57 in that one, with Hudson again leading the way with 15 points.