MIDDLE POINT – Upper Scioto Valley quickly realized it had the advantage down low.
And it didn’t take the Rams long to feed 6-foot-5 Connor Sanders.
USV delivered down low for a 64-44 boys basketball victory over Lincolnview Thursday at Lincolnview.
USV is 7-0. Lincolnview is 2-5.
“I thought in the first quarter we settled too much with a lot of jump shots,” USV coach Dre White said. “We wanted to be in an attack mode. That’s when we’re at our best, when we’re attacking the basket, get paint touches and dumping it down to Connor (Sanders) inside. I thought we made that adjustment in the second quarter and on.’’
Connor Sanders finished with 24 points, with the bulk of those down low.
“I had a height advantage and probably a weight advantage,” Sanders said. “I had the strength, too. So it just worked together real well.
“It’s a good start. We just can’t settle in and get comfortable.’’
Jackson Rohrs scored 19, most of those on drives to the basket or putbacks. He also had seven rebounds.
USV freshman point guard Maddox Underwood got the ball to the right spots and had nine points.
“He (Underwood) made some really good passes,” Connor Sanders said. “He did a good job distributing.’’
Drew Stephens had five points and seven rebounds.
Garrett Richardson scored 16 for the Lancers. Landon Price had 11, while Cole Binkley scored 10.
The Rams went out to an 8-0 lead, but the Lancers came back and tied the score at 13 late in the first quarter.
USV then went on a 10-0 run to take a 23-13 lead with 5:45 left before halftime.
“I think everything with us starts with defense,” White said. “We gave up 13 in that first quarter and that’s not really us. We had to get some stops. They were in the aggressor in that first quarter.
“In the second quarter, we locked in, defensively, got some stops and rebounded much better. That’s when we
were able to get out and go and attack the basket and be a little big more of us.’’
USV won the boards, 27-21.
The Rams led 16-13 after the first quarter and 30-20 at the half.
Connor Sanders and Rohrs were scoring on the inside with dribble drives to the basket.
“We knew they were a little more thin than usual inside and we tried to take advantage of that,” White said. “Connor is hard to guard. We did a nice job of having him on the perimeter, but also had him come inside. He was 9 of 12 from the field. He was huge for us tonight.’’
The Rams hit three first-half 3-pointers by Alex Sanders, Drew Stephens and Connor Sanders.
And it was all directed out front by the rookie point Underwood.
To start the third quarter, Connor Sanders hit a 10-footer and Underwood sank a 3-pointer.
That gave USV a 35-20 lead and it led 44-30 after three.
“He’s a gamer,” White said of Underwood. “He’s not afraid of the big moment. In fact, he’s better in the big
moment. … He’s the heartbeat of our offense and we go through him.
“It was our first real road test and for a freshman to come up to Lincolnview and do as well as he did, I’m really happy for him.’’
The Rams go into Christmas break with a 7-0 mark.
“It feels good to be 7-0,” White said. “It’s a whole new system and a whole new style. We got off to a late start with the success the football team had. I’m super proud of them.’’
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