Hamilton Heights’ Hawks got an unexpected home game on Tuesday and made the most of the opportunity by thumping American Basketball Institute of Atlanta, Georgia, 88-60, behind balanced scoring led by Uros Plasvic’s 21 points.
Pipes in ABI’s home gym burst due to cold weather on Monday and the two teams decided to play the game in Chattanooga.
The Hawks (11-4) were ready for the challenge and burst into a 40-23 halftime lead.
ABI sliced the Hawks’ lead to 10 points early in the third period, but that’s when the 7-foot-1 Plasvic began to dominate the inside play, scoring all of his 21 points in the second half. Many of those points came after Plasvic became a powerhouse on the boards. He finished with 14 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Jason Jitoboh added seven rebounds and eight points to the Hawks’ effort.
Tre Edwards scored 13 points, Sam Ruzhentsev 12 and Jordan Rawls 10 for the Hawks. Kevaughn Ellis and Wheza Panzo each had five assists to go along with six and three points, respectively.
Marquis Dortch paced ABI with 17 points, Jonathan Foster scored 16 and TyShawn Andrews added 14.
Boxscore
American Basketball Institute 9 14 16 18 – 60
Hamilton Heights 19 21 25 23 – 88
ABI (60) – Marquis Dortch 17, Kuche 2, Cao 4, Jonathan Foster 16, Laukys, Clinton 2, TyShawn Andrews 14, Smith 3, Salma 2.
Hamilton Heights (88) – Ellis 6, Farrar, Jordan Rawls 10, Panzo 3, Tre Edwards 13, Gilgeous-Alexander 3, Ambrose 7, Sam Ruzhentsev 12, LeGuenne 5, Jitoboh 8, Uros Plasvic 21.
3-Point Goals – ABI 9 (Dortch 5, Foster 3, Andrews 1), Hamilton Heights 9 (Ellis 2, Rawls 2, Ruzhentsev 2, Panzo 1).
(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)