(Atlantic) Dayton Templeton scored 31 points, and Colton Rasmussen added 21 to lead Atlantic past Lewis Central 68-57 in a boys’ basketball game on Friday at Lewis Central.
“I thought we dominated the paint from start to finish,” said Atlantic Head Coach Derek Hall. “We arose to the occasion against a big physical team. Rebounding on the offensive end has been our kryptonite the first few games, and I thought our paint touches were great; we were getting downhill, dishing to open teammates, hitting open shots, and finishing in the paint. We became men tonight. I’m proud of our guys for getting it done.”
J.C. Dermody and Cole Arnold led the Titans with 13-points each. Wyatt Hatcher pitched in 12-points.
Hatcher put Lewis Central up 2-0, and the Trojans answered with nine straight points to go up 9-2. The Titans came firing right back, outscoring the Trojans 13-6 and tying the game 15-15 at the end of the first quarter.
At the break, Lewis Central gained a 28-24 lead but couldn’t hold off the Trojans in the final two frames. Rasmussen’s layup with 47 left in the third quarter gave the visitors a 41-39 lead.
The Trojans kept their foot on the throttle in the final stanza vaulting to a ten-point lead on multiple occasions behind Templeton’s pinpoint shooting at the free-throw line. The senior dropped in seven free throws in the fourth quarter and finished a perfect 11/11 at the charity stripe. Rasmussen went 7/8 from the free-throw line, and the team went 23/29 in the 68-57 victory.
Templeton’s 31-points are a career-high for him.
“Good things happen when he gets downhill,” said Coach Hall. “He is unstoppable when he rips and goes, and he is fun to watch. He got it figured out and finally got that thirty-piece he’s been looking for.”
Coach Hall was particularly impressed with his squad’s ball pressure. “Our ball pressure improved light years tonight,” said Hall. “It made it more difficult for them to pass to the post. When we run into these big physical teams like Lewis Central or Harlan, ball pressure can help out. The credit goes to all our players; they hit the shot, made plays when needed, and played together.
Templeton and Rasmussen posted the majority of the scoring, but others contributed differently. “Ethan Sturm did a great job getting into the lane and creating for others, and defending Lewis Central’s Point guard J.C. Dermody,” said Coach Hall. “Caden Andersen arose to the occasion especially in the second half, and G-Mac was great on defense Jackson McLaren played huge for us off the bench, and Jayden Proehl and Lane Nelson gave us some good minutes. Carter Pellett didn’t hit shots, he kept playing and did a lot of great things including defending the post. And Colton Rasmussen scored the quietest 21-points ever.”
The Trojans travel to Nodaway Valley on Saturday.
