Heritage Christian Academy used a late 16-0 run to hold off the Owensboro Knights and grab a 69-53 win in the 2020-21 season opener Friday in Owensboro.
The Warriors were clinging to a 51-49 lead early in the fourth quarter until their pressure defense helped facilitate the game-clinching 16-0 run.
Carlos Robles scored six of his 16 points in the fourth quarter for the Warriors. He also had six steals and four assists.
Weston Powell also had 16 points for the Warriors, including nine in the second half. He also had a team-high 10 rebounds. HCA held a 39-32 advantage on the glass in the contest.
Trenton Hayes hit three of his four 3-pointers in the first half as the Warriors jumped out to a 16-5 lead. Hayes finished with 12 points and five steals.
The Knights, a team of home-schooled students in Daviess County, chipped away to cut the deficit to 22-17 after one quarter. The Knights got to within two points on several occasions in the second, third, and fourth quarters but could never tie the game.
Matt Wills had eight points and five rebounds for the Warriors, with Triston Folz adding six points and six rebounds.
Heritage got up 78 shots in the game, connecting on 29 for a 37-percent clip. The Knights shot 52-percent from the field on 18-of-34 shooting. They were 16-of-32 at the free throw line and turned the ball over 31 times.
HCA struggled at the charity stripe, hitting 9-of-22. They had 21 turnovers.
Christopher Wongler led the Knights with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Heritage Christian [1-0] will play at Clarksville Christian Monday.
Heritage Christian 22 12 12 23–69
Owensboro Knights 17 8 19 9– 53
HCA – Robles 16, Powell 16, Hayes 12, Wills 8, Folz 6, Thompson 4, Gibson 3, Yates 2, Crunk 2
Owensboro – Wongler 25, Helms 14, Bitters 5, Hyland 5, Floyd 4
