Talk about starting out a game with red-hot shooting.
Hamilton Heights’ Therren Shelton-Szmidt was on target early, hitting 5-of-6 3-pointers in the first quarter and leading the Hawks to a 72-57 victory over Central Park on Friday night.
Szmidt’s opening barrage helped the Hawks take a 29-8 advantage after one quarter of action. They were up 49-20 at halftime.
Playing a rare home game at Tyner Middle School, Szmidt finished with 20 points as the Hawks improved to 19-5 on the season. It was only the third home game for the nationally ranked Hawks – they have own all three contests.
Hamilton Heights have another scheduled home game against Legacy Charter on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander matched Szmidt’s 20-point effort and added eight assists and six rebounds. Nickeil Alexander-Walker finished with 11 points and six assists. Six-foot-10 junior Kaosi Ezeagu, one of six Canadians on the Hawks’ roster, pulled down nine rebounds.
Central Park’s Brandon Mahan led all scorers with 28 points and had two of the team’s four 3-pointers.
LINESCORE
Central Park 8 12 16 21 – 57
Hamilton Heights 29 20 9 14 – 72
Central Park (57) – Tucker, Cowans, Brandon Mahan 28, Walker 2, M. Sissoko 8, Smith 8 Verlassevic 6, Hinto 2, H. Sissoko 3.
Hamilton Heights (72) – Nickeil Alexander-Walker 11, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 20, Rawls, Massengill, Edwards, Samake 7, Therren Shelton-Szmidt 20, Diawara 2, Panzo 5, Jitoboh, Ezeagu 5.
3-Point Goals – Central Park 4 (Mahan 2, Verlasevic 2), Hamilton Heights 9 (Szmidt 5, Alexander 2, Walker 2).
(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)