Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
POTTER – It was all Potter-Dix from the opening tip.
The Coyotes (3-5) used a hot start from Cameron Purcell to jump out to the early lead and Trace Sharman had the hot hand after that as they stomped South Platte, 70-46, on Saturday. Sharman led the way with 21 points, while Purcell scored 20.
The Potter-Dix defense dominated the Blue Knights (1-7), especially early on, as the home team stormed out to the early lead.
“We just wanted to put more pressure in the backcourt,” Potter-Dix coach Chad Miller said. “We tried to trap a little bit more to create turnovers. We did a pretty good job of doing that Saturday.”
Purcell scored 15 of his 20 points in the first quarter as Potter-Dix jumped out to a 19-3 lead. The senior scored the first five points of the game and the Coyotes’ first seven points as they led 7-2 less than three minutes into the game. A Cole Christiansen jumper extended the advantage to 9-2.
Purcell’s trey from the corner made it a 12-2 advantage with two minutes left in the quarter that started a 10-0 run to end the frame. Jake Johnson’s layup made it 14-3, and Purcell’s third basket from downtown extended the advantage to 17-3. Purcell picked off a South Platte pass and took it the other way for a score to end the quarter with a 19-3 lead.
“Cameron is a good shooter and when he’s shooting well from behind the arc he kind of gets our offense going,” Miller said. “He has good form and we trust him with the ball in his hands to make good decision. Saturday was one of the games where I thought he shot the ball when he should shoot it and pass the ball when he should pass it.”
The Coyotes continued their hot start with a 7-0 run to begin the second quarter, which ended on back-to-back Sharman baskets – his first two field goals of the game -–for a 26-3 lead with 6:22 left until halftime. Purcell added another shot from downtown and Christensen’s basket with 4:21 left in the half made it a 31-5 game. Potter-Dix held a 35-16 halftime lead.
“(Trace) get most of his points from his defense,” Miller said. “He’s a good defender and he was able to put pressure on them defensively, and that’s really his time to shine.”
The Coyotes are on the road for their next two games, traveling to Kimball on Tuesday and rival Leyton on Friday.
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