Columbus North’s Sam King gives a fake to Heritage Christian’s Jonathan Dorsch in Memorial Gymnasium at Columbus North high School. Tommy Walker/For The Republic.
Columbus North turned up the intensity, brought a ton of energy and put the pressure on Heritage Christian during the third quarter of Tuesday night’s boys basketball season opener.
The Bull Dogs went on a huge run during that third quarter to put the game away to secure a 70-53 victory.
Sam King led the charge for North, pouring in a career-high 25 points.
“Sam played great. I think his start really helped us” North coach Paul Ferguson said. “He hit a couple of big shots early. He showed he was going to be a force to be reckoned with all night, and he certainly was.”
Leading 32-26 at halftime, the Bull Dogs went on a 21-2 run during the third quarter to balloon the lead and eventually earn the win.
“Honestly, it starts with the crowd. They gave us a ton of energy from the very start, and they were getting in their heads,” King said. “A play happens and we have so much energy that it keeps building on and on. Everyone on our bench has energy. If I get subbed out for foul, the guy has the same energy I have. It just keeps building.”
The duo of Cooper Horn and King built a 7-0 North lead in the first three minutes. The Eagles formed a run of their own to cut the Bull Dogs to 7-6. Horn and Rhett Harmon then combined for three 3-pointers to boost the lead to double digits 20-10 after the first quarter.
Luke Harmon started off the second quarter with a 3 to give North an extended 23-10 lead. The Eagles then picked up the intensity to go on a 9-0 run to cut into the deficit 23-19. Luke Harmon hit a much needed 3-pointer, his second of the quarter, to go make it 26-19. Neither team produced a big offensive scoring run the rest of the first half.
“The guys we have, we’re so happy to play with other,” King said. “We have so much energy, and our chemistry is second to none.”
Horn and Luke Harmon each added 16 points for the Bull Dogs.
Purdue commit Myles Colvin led Heritage Christian with20 points. Andrew Wiggins finished with 11, and Dylan Doss added 10.
The Bull Dogs will be celebrating this season opener for a short time because in three days, they’ll host Jennings County at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
