By Zack Steele, For the Tribune
TRUSSVILLE – Hewitt Boys Head Basketball Coach Jeremy Monceaux had a message for his team prior to his team’s road game Friday night at Fairview: Be ready to play when you step off the bus.
His team responded with a resounding victory over Fairview. It was a much better start than three days prior, when the Huskies sleep walked in the early going at home against Oxford.
Oxford 59
Hewitt 56
Hewitt dug themselves a 19 point hole thanks to a hot shooting Oxford team in the first half.
In the second half, the yellow jacket shooting cooled off, much in part due to increased intensity from the Hewitt Trussville defense. Hewitt erased the 19 point deficit, but couldn’t close the gap, losing by 3 points.
“For the first time all season, I felt like we did not come out playing with the passion and energy our team has to have to play well. Couple that with how well Oxford shot the ball and it made for a tough night.” Said Monceaux.
“We showed some fight to cut the deficit but it is my job to make sure we are ready to go, and I was disappointed in the way we started the game and we could just never recover.”
Reid Stodgehill led the Huskies in scoring with 18 points. Jathan Fulmer and Colt Wells had 8 apiece, and Jacqson Melton, fresh off the football field, had 7 points.
Hewitt 66
Fairview 43
Hewitt hit the road Friday and bounced back with a 23 point road win at Fairview. Hewitt jumped out to a big halftime lead allowing Monceaux to empty his bench in order to develop some much needed depth that the Huskies will need for later in the season.
Stodgehill led the Huskies in scoring with 17 points. Colt Wells came up big with 13 points off the bench. Sophomore Rashad Rolley added 11 points.
“I challenged our guys to get off the bus ready to play and I think they responded well.” Our defensive effort was really strong. Our defensive effort was really strong. Dave Carter, Colt Wells and our second group gave us some really great minutes off the bench. We have to continue to develop our depth ” said Monceaux
Up next for the Huskies are back to back home games against two teams ranked in the top 10 in their divisions. On Tuesday night, the Huskies host Hillcrest of Tuscaloosa, and Vestavia comes to town Friday.
“We are excited to have a couple home games after being on the road quite a bit this season. We have two top 10 programs coming into Bryant Bank Arena this week, both are really good teams that provide different challenges for us,” said Monceaux. “I hope we can have the Bryant Bank arena full of fans to help us. Both games will take really good performances from us. We are looking forward to the opportunity to get better.”