HINSDALE CENTRAL
HOLIDAY CLASSIC

HC SQUARED:  Building a New Tradition of Basketball at Its Best
 

2022 GAME 10 RECAP: RICHARDS 65, MORTON 58

Box Score

HINSDALE, Ill. – Richards hit clutch shots down the stretch and made their free throws late to edge Morton 65-58 in game 10 of the 2022 Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic.

The Bulldogs improved to 6-8 on the season and the Mustangs fell to 5-6.

Richards held sway early on, jumping out to an 11-0 lead in the first three minutes. Morton responded back with nine points in-a-row. The Bulldogs kept bombing away from three-point range to negate Morton's size advantage, netting 7 on 19 attempts in the first half.

Then in the second quarter, a Richards three-pointer pushed its lead back out to 21-13. Once again, Morton clawed back with a seven-point run. Adrian Anderson's layup pulled the Mustangs to within 21-20. Center Victor Garrett keeps blocking shots in the lane as well, totaling four in the first half. Once the halftime buzzer sounded, Richards held a 26-22 lead. Anderson tallied 12 points in the half.

The Mustangs got to the rim and earned its first lead of the contest early in the third quarter. A Richards and-one put the Bulldogs back up at 31-29. Richards then hit back-to-back threes to move ahead 42-36.

Garrett was able to convert in the post on several chances early in the fourth quarter to help tie the game at 42-42. Anderson's driving fast-break layup put Morton up 44-42, but Richards came right back with a three. Morton drew ahead 54-52 by scoring at the rim, especially Anderson. Richards' Eddie Hrebic countered by hitting a pair of corner threes from same spot to tie it 58-58. While Morton came up empty on its remaining offensive possessions, Richards sank 7 of 8 free throws in the final 90 seconds to clinch the victory.

Three-point land was the difference in the game. The Bulldogs made 13 of 31 from beyond the arc while the Mustangs struggled mightily at 0-for-14. Both teams shot under 40 percent on field goals. Rebounds were even at 36-36 while Richards committed more turnovers (17-11). Points in the paint went massively in Mortion's favor, 40-8. Points off turnovers were similarly one-sided at 23-6 Mustangs.      

Anderson led all scorers with 24 points while also grabbing five rebounds and four steals for Morton. Garrett submitted a double-double with 11 pooints, 11 rebounds and four blocks. Hrebic swished five three-pointers for 15 points while Marcus Jennings led Richards with 17 points.

Richards will face Lincoln-Way Central in Wednesday's consolation semifinal at 12:30 p.m. Morton will play Glenbard East in Wednesday's consolation bracket at 9:30 a.m.