Red Hawk defense shuts down the Eagles in tournament opener

Cedar Springs varsity boys basketball held Kent City to only 9 second-half points in a much needed victory Monday in the opening game of the 2nd annual Cedar Springs Holiday Tournament. The Red Hawks, playing without injured team captains Hank Porter and Kyle Chaney, used stifling man-to-man defense to shut down the Eagles in a 43-26 victory.
Point guard Jason Gingrich scored the first 9 points for the Red Hawks as they got off to a 9-3 lead. Then lay-ups by Derek Ash and Ryan Dines followed by an Alec Hanmer three-pointer gave Cedar a 16-5 lead after one quarter of play. Baskets by Andrew Klompstra and Hanmer began the second quarter for the Red Hawks. Then a Tyler Covell 3-pointer followed by a 3-point play by Ash gave the Red Hawks a 26-17 halftime lead.
The defense took over in the third quarter, holding the Eagles to only 3 points. Field goals by Derek Ash and Tyler Covell, and a Ryan Dines trey, built the Red Hawk lead to 33-20 after three quarters.
In the 4th quarter, Ash scored 6 points, and buckets by Trey Reed and Dines sealed the victory for the Red Hawks.
Ash led the Red Hawks with 13 points, shooting 60 percent from the floor and collecting 4 rebounds. Jason Gingrich scored 9 points, with 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Ryan Dines had a fine all around game with 7 points, 5 steals and 3 assists. Hanmer and Covell scored 5 points each, and Trey Reed finished with 2 points and took 2 charges.
“We continue to play good team defense,” said head coach Andy Secor, after the game. “But we are still struggling to score points. Playing without Porter and Chaney, I thought our guys really stepped up and played hard.”