Early scoring burst leads to AC blowout of Eastside
MONROE—Using a stifling defense, 82% two-point accuracy, and only five turnovers against a competitive team, Adams Central broke to a 15-0 lead and was an easy winner last Saturday in The Hangar over the Eastside Blazers: 60-28.
The big opening burst was notable for one thing: four of the starting five scored the first 15 points, but the only one not on the scoreboard was the Flying Jets’ all-time leading male shooter, Ethan Poling.
Poling got that record the night before in another blowout win over South Adams and tallied 12 on Saturday to reach 1,210 in his four year career.
His one-hand eightfooter at just over one minute for a 17-3 lead climaxed the initial barrage that came this way: Breyland Reber, layup; Ryan Tester, layup; Isaac Schultz, layup; Schultz, two free throws; Micah McClure, 10-foot J; Reber, three, so call him “Threeber.”
Eastside (7-12) didn’t score until 2:16 when a free toss by Clayton Minnick made it 15-1.
AC — 15-4, with 14 wins in a row — was led by Schultz’s 15, plus four rebounds, three steals, and three assists. Among his deuces was Flush Number Nine in his career, all this season, which made the score 38-17 in the third period.
Poling added four caroms and two assists.
Reber put up nine points, three rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
McClure also had nine, plus six assists.
Trace Maller put up six points, Tester pitched in five, and Max Hamilton got four.
The Blazers had one player in dual digits: Minnick, with 13. Eastside scored in single figures each
quarter.
AC head coach Aaron McClure was very proud of the way the Jet “D” closed out and closed down Eastside, limiting inside shots and forcing the visitors to shoot just four for 15 in threes (26.6%). He said the team mostly employed a one-three-one defensive setup, knowing that the Blazers are a very patient, pass-first team.
About his offense, which hit 24 of 29 twos and six of seven foul shots, he said it was “very efficient,” especially in quick transition plays.
AC’s size inside was also a problem for Eastside, with Schultz at 6-7, Poling at 6-5, and Reber at 6-3.
Micah McClure made the best pass of the game: a 50-foot heave on target to Schultz for an easy layin.
Last weekend’s two lopsided wins at home will be followed by this week’s two much tougher matchups on the road: tonight at Southwood and Friday versus one of the top teams in Indiana — West Noble. Coach McClure says Southwood has around a .500 record, but has a number of experienced seniors and is better than its record indicates. West Noble, he reported, is far more dangerous and will likely be sporting a 17-2 or 18-2 mark when it plays the Jets. Coach M notes that the Chargers’ two losses were to the number one teams in Class 2A and Class 3A. The 2A team is Blackhawk Christian of Fort Wayne, which is also in AC’s sectional at South Adams.
JV Game
The B team contest was a 39-34 victory for Eastside as it bombed 10 threes on the Flying Jets, although AC nailed six from distance.
The outcome left AC at 7-9, while the Blazers are 7-12.
Kolton Littler topped Central with 10 points and Braden Dalrymple had nine on three treys.
For Eastside, Connor Abplanalp led with 16 and Nolan Baker had 12.
AC made eight of 12 at the foul line and the Blazers went just one for three.