A local basketball product turned in his best offensive performance of the young season in Hamilton Heights’ 97-49 rout of visiting Covenant Ministries on Tuesday night.
Jordan Rawls, a sophomore who had played at East Hamilton and Ooltewah before joining the Hawks, scored a career-high 26 points.
The 6-foot Rawls, who had scored only 18 points in his previous seven appearances, exploded against the Crusaders by scoring 12 first-half points and 14 after the break and knocking down four of the Hawks’ 10 3-pointers.
He hit five 2-point shots and went 4-for-5 from the free throw line.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the Virginia Tech signee, scored 19 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had four steals and Kentucky signee Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 12 points. Middle Tennessee signee Therren Shelton-Szmidt added seven points, all in the first quarter.
The Hawks outclassed the Crusaders from start to finish and had a 62-25 halftime lead. They stretched the advantage to 85-35 after three quarters.
Tuesday’s action was the Hawks’ only home game this month. They next play a home game on Jan. 20 against Central Park from Birmingham, Ala. The following night Hamilton Heights will host Legacy Prep and entertain Vision Prep on Jan. 31.
Linescore
Covenant Ministries 11 14 10 14 – 49
Hamilton Heights 31 31 23 12 -- 97
Covenant Ministries (49) – J. Benitez, L. Benitez 2, Camron Ennis 12, Williams 8, Beleegsar, Ganboa, Igbanu 3, Farfen 4, Ntihinda 8, Chris Agbo 12.
Hamilton Heights (97) – Nickeil Alexander-Walker 19, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 12, Jordan Rawls 26, Massengill 6, Edwards 5, Samake, Shelton-Szmidt 7, Diawara 6, Panzo 6, Jitoboh 2, Ezeagu 8.
3-Point Goals – Covenant Ministries 4 (Ennis 2, Williams 2), Hamilton Heights 10 (Rawls 4, Massengill 2, Walker 1, Alexander 1, Edwards 1, Szmidt 1).
(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)