Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PEDRO — No matter how ugly a win might appear, it’s always a lot better looking than any loss.

The Rock Hill Redmen didn’t have their best offensive effort but the defense held Portsmouth Clay to single digits in three of four quarters as they beat the Panthers 40-26 on Saturday.

“It was an ugly win, but it was a win. It was one of those game where you had a chance to pull away but you don’t,” said Rock Hill coach Dave Hopper. “We played hard, we just made a lot of young mistakes.”

Layden Delawder scored 11 points to lead the Redmen (4-10. Joey Stidham scored 9 points to go with 6 steals and 4 assists, Austin Collins had 7 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in the win and Jacob Falls added 7 points.

Michael Schmidt scored 9 points and Eldin Sarajilic 8 for Clay.

The game started slow with Rock Hill taking a 7-4 lead.

Shane Harper scored all 4 of his points in the second quarter and each team had 13 points as the Redmen led 20-17 at the half.

Collins and Delawder scored 5 points each in the third quarter as Rock Hill outscored Clay 13-3 to grab a 33-20 lead.

Rock Hill plays at River Valley on Tuesday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Ports. Clay 4 13 3 6 = 26

Rock Hill 7 13 13 7 = 40

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (NA): Aaron Phipps 0 0 1-2 1, Conner Phipps 1 0 0-0 2, Tony Whitt 1 0 0-0 2, Eldin Sarajilic 4 0 0-0 8, Taylor Lavalley 0 0 0-1 0, Michael Schmidt 3 0 3-3 9, Jacob Crosier 1 0 2-6 4. Totals: 10 0 6-12. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.

ROCK HILL (4-10): Evan Morris 1 0 0-0 2, Joey Stidham 2 1 2-4 9, Austin Collins 2 1 0-0 7, Jacob Falls 2 1 0-0 7, Shane Harper 2 0 0-0 4, Layden Delawder 2 2 1-2 11, Aaron Dalton 0 0 0-0 0, Alex Nance 0 0 0-0 0, Chandler Haskins 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11 5 3-6 40. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.