In the traditional boys basketball season-opening matchup between Anderson and Pendleton Heights, the expected standouts shined brightly for most of the evening, but it was a first-year starter who stole the show and spoiled a coaching legend’s return.
Sophomore guard Collin Lewis scored nine of his 16 points in the fourth quarter as Anderson held off the Arabians 47-38, handing coach Joe Buck a loss in his return to the PH sideline.
“I’ll be honest, and people will see later in the year, but Pendleton Heights is a really good team,” Anderson coach Donnie Bowling said. “And people are going to see that, we may not score pretty, but we’re not a bad team, either.”
Coaching on the court named for his father, Phil, Buck won 189 games and six sectionals during his previous stint with the Arabians. Even in defeat, he said it was a special night.
“It was a special night to be here,” Buck said. “It was a special night for the players, but we didn’t get the result we wanted.”
After Evan Mozingo tied the game at 38-38 for PH, Christian Townsend put Anderson back on top with a jumper in the lane. Lewis then hit an elbow jumper, made a free throw and iced the game with a steal and breakaway layup in the closing moments.
He also hit a pair of baskets early in the fourth quarter while the Arabians clamped down on Anderson star junior Damien King.
“I know they can’t guard me, so I just try to attack and get to the bucket,” Lewis said. “Damien was a little shaken up, so I felt like I had to do my thing. I’ve been working on my jump shot, so I had the confidence to hit those shots down the stretch.”
King was spotted on crutches after the game.
“I’ll be honest, you could say it was coaching, but we didn’t do anything different and Collin just made plays,” Bowling said.
King finished with 13 points but was held scoreless in the fourth period.
Anderson jumped out to a 7-0 lead to start the game as Warfield scored on a three-point play and a drive sandwiched around a Collin Lewis steal and layup. Josiah Gustin ended the run with a 3-point shot, which King promptly answered with one of his own for a 10-3 Anderson advantage.
But the Arabians pulled within 12-10 at the end of the quarter when Gustin converted all three free throws after he was fouled in the final seconds.
The Anderson defense held PH scoreless for much of the second quarter, but could only build an 18-10 lead on baskets by King, Aaron Morgan and Christian Townsend. Gustin and Mozingo scored for PH, but a rebound basket by Warfield sent Anderson to the locker room with a 21-14 lead.
Anderson travels to Lapel on Friday while Pendleton Heights will play its home opener Saturday evening when Wapahani comes to town.
Nyrel Ingram scored 27 points — including the game winner at the buzzer — as the Anderson junior varsity prevailed 56-54 over Pendleton Heights in double overtime. Cooper Sims led the Arabians with 13 points while Preston Wolfe added 12. Ingram also grabbed 12 rebounds for Anderson.
This article appeared in The Herald Bulletin.