By Kyle Wannen
For DigitalSports.com
After Walt Whitman’s basketball team hit a last second shot to close out the first half against Churchill on Monday, Bulldogs coach
Matt Miller had a lot to say to his team.
“I got after them a little bit but they responded very well and I’m proud of our guys for that,” Miller said.
Churchill responded with a 67-51 win, avenging an earlier loss to Whitman this season.
“He was furious about that,” forward
Chase Hicks said. “But it motivated us to all to go out there and come out with fire; pick it up on [offense], pick it up on [defense]. I think it really sparked us."
Churchill (10-6) came out with a lot of energy and outscored the Vikings 14-8 to start the third quarter and increase their lead to 13.
The Bulldogs were led by Hicks and forward
Elijah Gore who scored 24 and 19 points respectively.
“Last time we played them I wasn’t attacking the basket and that really didn’t help our team,” Gore said.
“They’re tremendous players,” Miller said. “They do a nice job of playing under control but playing powerful at the same time.”
Whitman (8-8) pulled off a tough 53-49 victory at Whitman when the two teams met on Jan. 7. That loss snapped Churchill's six-game win streak.
“This was huge,” Hicks said. “Whitman’s always a big rival. They always come out prepared. They beat us seven of the eight last times”
The Vikings were led by
Michael Fowler who scored 21 points and
Eddie Wytkind chipped in 10 points.
