Flames turn up heat to shut down host Generals

By Dennis Atwood - sports@nvdaily.com

QUICKSBURG -- Seeking their first win of the season, the Stonewall Jackson boys basketball squad hosted Eastern Mennonite -- a team that likes playing away from home -- in nondistrict action Monday night.

But the first "W" was not to be for the Generals, as the Flames dominated, 59-32, to improve their road record to 5-1 this season.

Eastern Mennonite (5-4) starts five seniors and employed pressure defense for the majority of the game.

The Generals scored first, on a putback by sophomore forward Hunter Smootz, at 7:10.

It took the Flames a while to ignite, missing three field goals and all four free throws in their first two trips to the line before senior forward Isaac Driver converted a pair of free throws to tie the game.

Eastern Mennonite then warmed up by going on a 14-5 run to close out the first period with a 16-7 lead.

Senior guard Tyler Maust scored six of the points during that run, with a free throw, a field goal and a trey.

In the second period, the teams repeated their first-period numbers, as Maust scored six more points on his way to a game-high 14 and the Flames held a commanding 32-14 halftime lead.

"The first time we played [the Generals], both teams had two players out and the score was a lot closer," Maust said. "This game was a milestone for us, to see how much we've improved since the start of the season. We shot well and got a lot of guys into the game.

"I don't know what it is about playing on the road ... just that we have a lot of energy and can play tough away from home."

The Generals (0-12) managed to win the third period, 12-10, on five points from Smootz (team-high 10 points), field goals by Alex Collins and Colton Harlow and a 3-pointer by junior Matthew Litten, to close out the frame with Eastern Mennonite holding a 42-26 lead.

The Flames turned up the heat to high in a runaway 17-6 fourth quarter, as substitutes Chad Lehman and Aaron Bergman sank 3-pointers.

Ryan Beachy and Will Robinson also contributed baskets off the bench and starters Jae White and Daniel Yona rounded out the Flames' scoring in the final frame.

Ten of the 11 players on the Flames roster scored in the game.

The Generals' last score of the game came on a layup by Cody Stout with 2:52 remaining on the game clock.

Although the Flames had a couple of inches height advantage at two forward positions, the Generals took the rebounding edge, 27-17, with Smootz grabbing seven.

Eastern Mennonite beat the Generals in their season opener, 42-31, on Nov. 29.

"I thought we started a little slow tonight," Flames coach Dave Bechler said. "In our last game, we were hard-pressed to get our offense flowing. But, again, defense picked up for us on the road Thursday.

"I thought when we started working harder and got our energy on defense, everything came together. Defense is where we gotta start."

That speed and defense gave the Generals plenty of trouble, according to coach Bill Simmons.

"We tried to force things a little bit early," Simmons said. "When we sat down and ran the offense and worked together, I think that's why you see the third-quarter win.

"The guys are working hard to get better every day. We have a tough game [Tuesday] against Stuarts Draft. They're gonna run up and down the floor, too. Maybe this was some good preparation for that."