The three Canadian prep basketball stars that transferred to Hamilton Heights prior to the 2015-16 season put on a strong shooting performance Tuesday afternoon in the Hawks’ 76-54 victory over Central Park in a game played at Birmingham Southern.
Therren Szmidt, Shai Alexander and Nickeil Walker combined for 52 points and 19-of-35 shooting, including 9-of-17 from 3-point distance in a sterling display of shooting. For the game, the Hawks hit 10-of-22 shots behind the arc, while Central Park was 1-of-18, an anemic six percent.
Szmidt led the Hawks (3-0) with 19 points while Alexander added 18 points and Walker finished with 15.
The only other Hawks player in double figures was Silas Adheke with 10 points.
The four double-figure scorers together made 23-of-42 shots for 54.8 percent. From behind the 3-point arc, they were 10-of-18 for 55.6 percent.
Szmidt made two 3-pointers in each the first and fourth quarters and Alexander canned all three of his 3s in the second period when he had 11 total points.
That solid shooting helped the Hawks take a 45-25 halftime lead and they cruised to the easy win.
Throw in the other players and the Hawks hit 47.5 percent (28-of-59) from the floor.
Highly-touted 6-foot-9-inch post Abdulhakim Ado took only one shot from the field, hit 1-of-3 free throws and had one point in the game. He did have 13 rebounds (10 on the defensive end), five blocked shots – his specialties – and five assists.
Of 47 total rebounds for the Hawks, 32 came on the defensive glass.
College coaches from Georgia Tech and Alabama-Birmingham attended the game.
Brandon Mahan paced Central Park with 18 points and C.J. Jones added 16 points, 10 of which came in the fourth quarter. Mahan scored 10 of his team-high points in the third period.
Hamilton Heights is next scheduled to play Southwest Christian (Arkansas) Friday night in the Lighthouse Thanksgiving tournament in Corinth, Miss. That tournament continues on Saturday and the Hawks’ next home game will be against Covenant Christian on Dec. 1.
SCORING
Hamilton Heights 21 24 14 17 – 76
Central Park 10 15 12 17 – 54
Hamilton Heights (76) – Abubakar 8, Ado 1, Szmidt 19, Walker 15, Massengill, Alexander 18, Balogun 5, Adheke 10.
Central Park (54) – C.J. Jones 16, Walker 2, Davis 7, Hinton, Wright 5, Marmahadoo 6, Brandon Mahan 18.
3-Point Goals – Central Park 1 (Jones), Hamilton Heights 10 (Szmidt 4, Walker 3, Alexander 3).