The Winston Redbirds traveled to Mercer to play the Cardinals in an HDC Conference doubleheader on Tuesday night, with the winner in the boys game claiming sole possession of first place in the conference standings heading into the month of February.
The Mercer boys, using timely offense and stifling defense, held a 23-22 halftime lead over the #2 (MBCA Class 1) ranked team in the state. However, behind 31 points from senior point guard Jacob Lewis, Winston sizzled in the second half, taking a 55-41 win to move to 16-0 on the season, dropping the Cardinals to 13-3. Cy Uthe had 14 points for WHS, while for Mercer, Hunter Shipley had 19 points.
The girls contest went to the Lady Cardinals in decisive fashion, as a 26-5 edge in the third quarter opened up a tight affair, in a 64-25 win for Mercer. Rayne Kost led Mercer (14-3) with 30 points, with freshman Tori Meinecke adding 13. Sophie Pliley had 10 points for Winston, now 9-11 on the season.
In Gilman City on Tuesday night, the Grundy R-5 girls grabbed a 58-27 road win over the Ladyhawks, as Aubrey Gann had 19 points, Bri Carpio 13, and Daya Allnutt 10 for the Lady Panthers. The Grundy boys, boosted by 21 points from Caden Gann, 15 points and 12 rebounds from Cooper Lewis, and 14 points from Tanner Williams, downed Gilman City 67-50. Kaleb Bjornlie paced the Hawks with 18 points, with Jacob Zerbe adding 14.
The frigid temperatures postponed the regularly scheduled HDC doubleheader between East Harrison and Newtown-Harris.
Other scores from across the area on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 were:
GIRLS:
Maryville 52, Lathrop 33
Hogan Prep 70, Hamilton 63
Bishop LeBlond 42, East Buchanan 39
Green City 45, Schuyler County 39 (LaPlata quarterfinal)
Norborne 77, Northwestern 43
Hale 54, Tina-Avalon 51
BOYS:
Hogan Prep 49, Hamilton 36
Northwestern 79, Norborne 40
