Ravens add big win

Ravens add big win

Hillcrest Academy bounced back from a tough road loss Tuesday to gain a big win over previously undefeated Pekin 68-54 at home Friday. The Ravens never trailed in the contest, taking a 7-0 lead at the outset. The Ravens led 14-5 after six minutes and 16-7 after one quarter. Hillcrest extended the lead to 39-28 at the half. After Pekin cut it to four early in the third quarter, Kobe Borntrager answered with a three-ball, and the Ravens were able to get the margin back to 12 by the end of the third stanza for the 53-41 lead. It was all Ravens early in the fourth, as Hillcrest led 64-46 with four minutes to play.

Junior guard Eli Ours scored 20 first-half points enroute to 27 for the game, and had seven rebounds and four assists. Sophomore guard Noah Miller tallied 17 points, including 11 in the second half, with four assists, and senior forward Kobe Borntrager had 14 points on 5-7 from the floor and five rebounds. Aaron Hershberger scored six points off the bench, and London Schrock had four assists to go with two points. Drew Blauvelt completed the scoring with two points and had three rebounds.

Coach Dwight Gingerich said “this was a really good team win for us right now. I thought our offensive efficiency and flow was the best it’s been this season, and defensively, our guys played consistently hard. We were outsized and gave up too many offensive rebounds, but I liked our hustle and determination throughout.”

The win boosts the Hillcrest mark to 2-2 on the season and the Ravens play next on Tuesday at Wapello.