By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek boys snapped a two-game losing skid when they dismantled Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 70-52 in Hills Thursday.
A balanced H-BC offense featured five players reaching double figures in scoring for a Patriot basketball team that posted its first win in 2001.
Even more impressive than H-BC's offensive output was its effort on the boards. The Patriots outrebounded the Knights 32-17, and that was the key to victory in the mind of H-BC coach Steve Wiertzema.
"We rebounded really well," he said. "We had 19 offensive rebounds, and that was the difference in the game."
The game was a tight one in the first half, but H-BC took control in the second half by outscoring the Knights 42-23.
R-T-R, which led 16-14 after eight minutes of play, had a 29-28 halftime lead erased when H-BC went on an 18-6 scoring spree in the third quarter to gain a 46-35 advantage.
The Patriots increased the difference to 18 points in the fourth quarter by outscoring the Knights 24-17.
Brad Haak and Lance Crawford led H-BC's second-half assault on the Knights.
Haak, who had eight rebounds and three assists in the game, netted eight of his 12 points in the second half. Crawford tossed in seven of his team-high 13 points in the third and fourth quarters.
Matt Buck had 12 points and eight rebounds for the winners, while Lyle DeBoer chipped in 11 points and four steals.
Chris Fransman added 10 points and Darin DeBoer four assists to the winning cause.
Box score
D.DeBoer 0 0 0-1 0, Van Batavia 0 0 1-2 1, Van Maanen 0 0 0-2 0, Fransman 0 2 4-6 10, Haak 3 0 6-12 12, L.DeBoer 4 0 3-4 11, Van Wyhe 0 0 2-2 2, Top 1 1 4-8 9, Crawford 6 0 1-2 13, Buck 6 0 0-2 12.
Team statistics
H-BC 23 of 59 field goals (39 percent), 21 of 41 free throws (51 percent), 32 rebounds, 12 turnovers.
R-T-R: 20 of 45 field goals (44 percent), eight of 15 free throws (53 percent), 17 rebounds, 21turnovers.