Despite accumulating four fouls and sitting for large stretches of the first and third quarters, Derrell Bateman had twenty plus on Friday night and did not foul out as he led the Colonels to a 69-55 victory north of the border.
Christian County scooted up to Evansville to take on the Bear of Evansville Central and the game was tight for a long time.
Both teams spent the first half attempting to play their style. The Bears slowing it down, using screens and picks and cuts to find shots. The Colonels playing extremely athletic and violently fast taking Central out of sync.
It was a back and forth affair as at times Christian County was forced to slow down, and many times we saw their team speed effect the Bears offense.
As the second half began the prevailing thought was whoever could force the pace of the game for an extended time would begin to pull away, and that is what the Colonels did.
Starting to push the pace, they got to the basket and drew fouls while making floaters and lay-ups. They also back off the full-court pressure in leu of a sort of faux press where they would pick up and lock down Bears guards at the halfcourt line forcing several turnovers and easy buckets.
It also helped that your player of the game, Bateman, helped extend the floor making four plus threes and causing the defense to have to come out on him opening up the lane.
The Colonels now face a Castle team on Saturday who defeated Hoptown 78-62 on Friday; should be a great test.