Royals romp past Eagles
Defense helps Quartz Hill stay unbeaten in league
QUARTZ HILL — The Quartz Hill boys basketball team didn’t look like it was playing its third game in as many days on Wednesday night.
The Royals used energetic play, especially on defense, to score a convincing 69-45 Golden League victory over Lancaster at Quartz Hill High School.
Both teams entered the game undefeated early in league play. Quartz Hill improves to 8-3 overall and 4-0 in league, while Lancaster falls to 6-2 overall and 2-1.
“I’m always pleased with our effort. Our effort was there,” Quartz Hill coach Bernard Nichter said. “Probably got a little bit stagnant offensively. We got a little bit too anxious. We didn’t relax and move on the offensive end. They started hitting shots.
“Overall, I’m proud of our kids, because we play every day this week. Every day.”
The two teams were tied 12-12 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter was a much different story, thanks to the defensive pressure by the Royals.
Quartz Hill outscored Lancaster 24-7 in the second quarter, holding the Eagles scoreless for the first three minutes and 38 seconds.
Lancaster did not make its first basket until the 3:30 mark, when the Royals had built a 17-point lead.
“I feel good. We could have beat them by a little bit more, but it was a good win,” Quartz Hill senior Jaidyn Norman said. “Definitely defense. Defense won the game for us and got us, so they can’t get back into the game.”
Norman scored 14 points in the second quarter and finished with a gamehigh 28 points.
The Royals took a 20-point lead, 3515, with 2:10 remaining in the second quarter on a fast-break layup by Norman. Quartz Hill led 36-19 at halftime.
The Royals maintained a 20-point lead for most of the third quarter, outscoring the Eagles, 15-14.
Quartz Hill senior Joshua Schneider had one of the highlight plays for the Royals in the third, blocking a Lancaster layup on a fast break late in the quarter.
“It’s always our defense, which is our calling card,” Nichter said. “This group plays hard. I really like them. I really like this team.”
Lancaster made a run in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 13, 53-40,
on a jumper by Lancaster junior De’shane Evans with 5:42 remaining in the game.
Quartz Hill responded as junior Jerimiah Williams gave the Royals a 59-43 lead with a steal and a fast-break layup.
“I think we played good,” said Williams, a third-year varsity player. “We played hard defense. Our defense at the end is really what helped us win. The second group came in and did good, too. All I want to say is it was our defense.
“We all stay together (on defense). We talked it out in game and communicated, let each other know. It’s a good win.”
Quartz Hill finished the game with a 10-0 run.
Williams and Norman both scored six points apiece in the fourth quarter for Quartz Hill. Williams finished with 11 points, sophomore Ty’Jahwuan Jackson had eight points, sophomore Brodie Larey added five points and sophomore Julian Henriquez and senior center KeCyn Ceasar both finished with four points apiece. Junior Kevin Johnson and seniors Jonah Singlelton and Elijah
Henriquez all scored three points each.
“Right now, 8-3, they’re feeding off of it,” Nichter said of the defense. “They know when they play hard, especially on the defense end, that good things will happen. It makes everything easier. You’ve got to play hard.
“I can’t say that against every team I’ve coached, but this group, they get after it.”
Lancaster junior Dajuan Manning scored a team-high 11 points for the Eagles, seniors Chance Beoranje and Abayomi Suulola both scored six points and juniors Darius Jackson, Keelan Benjamin, Evans and Alvaro Martinez all scored five points apiece.
Former Lancaster coach Jesse Parker was filling in for Lancaster coach Jamal Sloan, who got two technicals in a 52-46 win at Burroughs on Tuesday night.
“They came out with a lot more intensity in the second quarter and made a run on us,” Parker said. “We were having trouble keeping our dribble penetration in front of us. They’re just a talented team. They’re athletic. They’re talented and they play well together.
“They’re obviously going to be one of the top teams in the league this year, returning all the players they did from last year. This is definitely a test for us, to show us where we’re at and what we need to work on to get better going forward. We’re 2-1 in league. That’s not a bad start. We’ll build from here and move forward.”
Lancaster plays at Knight on Friday. Knight also entered Wednesday undefeated, prior to playing at Palmdale.
Lancaster finished seventh in league last season, with a 2-12 record, while Quartz
Hill tied for second with Eastside, with 11-3 records, behind league champion Knight, which finished 13-1.
“That’s what we want. That’s our goal, to get a league championship,” Williams said.
Quartz Hill will play Diamond Bar in a tournament game today, at Eastside on Friday and will play in the thirdplace game of the Glendora Tournament on Saturday.
“A statement for sure, to tell league that we’re not playing this year,” Norman said of the 4-0 start to league. “I think we’re playing good and great as a team.”