Walker Valley showed out on offense and defense in Wednesday’s match against Central in the Silverdale Thanksgiving Classic.
The Mustangs pulled away in the second half for the win behind an ensemble of scorers, 68-47. Nine Walker Valley players would score, and four players tallied 10 points or more.
The Purple Pounders faced a 2-3 scheme by the Mustangs. The defensive set would create havoc, as it went on to hold Central to scoring no more than 14 points in a quarter.
Walker Valley raced out to an early lead in the first quarter.
The Mustangs’ Hobert Branson leads the offensive attack with a combination of shooting and finishing. With three minutes remaining in the first quarter, Branson euro stepped across the paint, finishing with a layup to extend the Walker Valley lead to 11-4.
At the conclusion of the first quarter, Branson had 9 of Walker Valley’s 18 points. Central was held to 12 points in the first quarter.
After Mustangs’ Tayvon Barber showed off his own euro step to start the second quarter, the Pounders went on a small run to shorten the deficit. A skyhook by DJ Sandofor brought Walker Valley’s lead down to two.
The Mustangs would respond with multiple 3-pointers throughout the rest of the second quarter. What was a two-point lead grew to a 13-point lead for Walker Valley at halftime.
Branson was the leading scorer at the half with 14 points. Behind him was the Mustangs’ guard Heath Davis with eight points. The pair combined for four 3-pointers.
Walker Valley remained hot from the 3-point line as Peyton Ratcliff sunk two threes and two free throws-Ratcliff was fouled on another 3-point attempt.
Central’s Matthew Sharpe tried to keep the game within reach, as he would conclude with 22 total points. Sharpe was hitting the three-ball and finishing at will in the third quarter, but the gas in the tank ran out.
In the fourth quarter, Mustangs that came off the bench continued the streak of 3-pointers. Brett Campbell hit two more threes that gave Walker Valley an insurmountable lead. The Mustangs sprinted away from the Pounders with a 19-point fourth quarter.
“We did a pretty good job of executing on both ends. We got a little sloppy here and there, but it is still November,” said Walker Valley Head Coach Will Campbell. “We had a ton of guys contribute and we were able to play a lot of guys. I was proud of them. I thought their effort was good the whole game.”
The Mustang’s offense revolved around the 3-pointer and it was evident in their win. Walker valley finished with 10 total 3-pointers made on the day.
“We talk about it a lot and work on it a ton. It is part of how we play,” said Campbell. “If you keep giving us open looks, we are going to shoot pretty well on most nights.”
Walker Valley will be back in action for regular season play against CCHS on Tuesday, November 30. Central will face off against Notre Dame on Monday, November 29.
SUMMARY
CENTRAL 12 8 14 13 - 47
WALKER VALLEY 18 15 16 19 - 68
CENTRAL (47) - Matthew Sharpe 17, Watson 6, Glover 6, Sandofor 6, Wadley 4, Turner 3, Patillo 3, Sanders 2.
WALKER VALLEY (68) - Hobert Brabson 16, Heath Davis 11, Tayron Barber 10, Peyton Ratcliff 10, Jackson 7, Campbell 6, Harbison 4, Coates 3, Parris 1.
3-POINT GOALS: Central 7 (Sharpe 2, Glover 2, Patillo 1, Turner 1, Watson); Walker Valley 10 (Davis 3, Brabson 2, Ratcliff 2, Campbell 2, Jackson 1).
(Email Jacob Robinson at jjacobrobinson2001@gmail.com)