Apollo couldn’t get it done defensively against Monroe County on Saturday, while Trinity (Whitesville) grabbed an impressive win over Bethlehem and Landon Huff earned a new career milestone.
Apollo vs. Monroe County
Struggling to find an answer on the defensive end in the second half, Apollo’s losing streak was extended to 13 games following a 60-50 loss to Monroe County.
Junior Zjhan Tutt and sophomore Eli Masterson helped get the Eagles out to a decent start offensively, as they both scored six points each to send them into the second tied at 12-12.
Taking advantage of the Falcons practically living at the free throw line in the second, Apollo looked to the perimeter to gain an edge. The Eagles sank a pair of threes to help outscore Monroe County in the quarter, taking a 26-24 lead at halftime.
To open up the second half, Deaton Emmert was determined to get the lead back for the Falcons. He tallied 10 of the team’s 17 points, nearly outscoring Apollo himself en route to a 41-37 lead going into the fourth.
In the final quarter Monroe County didn’t let up. A balanced scoring attack helped them amass 19 points in the quarter, as the Eagles couldn’t close the gap and ultimately fell 60-50.
Masterson led Apollo with 16 points on the night, Tutt was the only other player in double figures with 10 points, while seniors Alex Morphew and Grant Smith finished with nine and eight points respectively.
The Eagles fall to 2-23 overall with the loss, as their schedule doesn’t let up with a tough matchup against Muhlenberg County at home at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Trinity vs. Bethlehem
The Raiders offense was firing on all cylinders Saturday, as Landon Huff secured a spot as one of Trinity’s all-time great scorers and Nathan Hernandez had nearly 30 points en route to an 82-65 win over Bethlehem.
Hernandez and Huff were the stars of the show right out of the gate. The dynamic junior duo had combined for 18 points with nine each, helping Trinity jump out to a 22-16 lead after the first.
It was a more balanced approach for the Raiders in the second, as they reached at least 20 points for the second straight quarter. The Eagles hung around though, rattling off 18 points to go into halftime trailing 42-34.
Coming out of the locker room Hernandez and senior Bailey Wright made sure the Raiders’ offense didn’t falter, as they both notched six points each. Matching Bethlehem’s total points in the third themselves, Trinity went into the fourth up 58-46.
The Eagles had their strongest offensive quarter of the night in the fourth, but Hernandez (seven) and Huff (six) made sure to close the door with a combined 13 points. Accounting for just over half of the team’s points in the fourth, the juniors’ explosive offensive performances throughout the night helped Trinity secure the 82-65 win.
Huff’s 19-point performance helped place his name in the history books at Trinity High School, as he surpassed 1,000 career points on Saturday. Hernandez led all scorers with 26 points on the night, while Wright also finished in double figures with 14.
After back-to-back wins the Raiders will find themselves back home, as they are set to host Edmonson County at 7:30 p.m. on Monday.
