In an SAC matchup Friday night, Concordia used a flurry of three-point shooting in the opening quarter to jump out to a double-digit lead, and the Cadets were never seriously threatened on their way to a 67-48 win at home over North Side.

 

 

The fireworks began right from the beginning, as David Speckhard opened the game with back-to-back threes for the Cadets. The hosts would open up a three-point advantage midway through the first as Grant Hayworth would use his 6'6 frame inside to scoop up garbage points. But the scoring didn't stop there for Concordia. They would hit a total of seven three-pointers in the opening frame as Speckhard would hit two more for a total of four made threes for his 12 first-quarter points. Star sophomore Ajani Washington would hit a pair himself, and Cole Hayworth also stepped out and buried a three.

 

North Side hit four three-pointers of their own in the first quarter, including a pair from senior guard Ryan Collins, but it wasn't enough as they fell behind by a dozen after the first eight minutes.

 

In the second period, the defense picked up for the Cadets, who used their size to swallow up driving lanes for the quicker North Side guards and get out to contest any jump shot. While no three-pointers would fall in the first few minutes for Concordia, North Side could not cut into the deficit as missed free throws and rushed attempts prevented them from clawing back into the game. Back-to-back threes for Washington and Joe Tapp would push the margin to 17 points.

 

While North Side's pressure and trapping would force eight first-half turnovers, the Cadets would begin to solve the Legend press in the third, opening up a 21 point advantage midway through the period thanks to the steady play of sophomore Ajani Washington. The point guard was surehanded all night for his team, scoring when needed and getting to the lane to create easy opportunities for his teammates.

 

North Side continued to pressure in the fourth and would keep the score respectable thanks to 16 points from Ryan Collins and 13 from Rodney Woods, a 6-23 shooting night from deep as well as 4-13 from the foul line hindered any potential comeback attempt. Concordia finished 9-20 from behind the arc, with all the makes coming in the first half.

 

Ajani Washington finished his superb all-around game with 24 points to go along with seven helpers, while David Speckhard scored all 14 of his points in the first half for the Cadets.

 

 

North Side  16   9   8  15  -  48

Concordia   28  13  11  15  -  67

 

North Side's Tae Johnson is sidelined with a right-wrist injury.

 

North Side: Ryan Collins 16 points (6/17 FGs, 3/11 3Ps, 1/1 FTs), 4 rebs, 2 stls; Rodney Woods 13 points (6/14 FGs, 1/5 3Ps), 7 rebs, 3 asts, 3 stls; Brashawn Bassett 8 points (3/7 FGs, 2/6 3Ps), 2 asts, 3 stls; Jordan Green 5 points (2/5 FGs, 1/2 FTs), 3 rebs, 2 asts; Jordan King 4 points (2/3 FGs)

 

Concordia: Ajani Washington 24 points (7/11 FGs, 3/5 3Ps, 7/13 FTs), 3 rebs, 7 asts, 2 stls; David Speckhard 14 points (4/7 3Ps, 2/2 FTs), 6 rebs, 2 asts, 2 stls; Cole Hayworth 9 points (4/10 FGs, 1/5 3Ps), 6 rebs, 3 asts, 3 stls; Grant Hayworth 9 points (3/4 FGs, 3/3 FTs), 6 rebs; Joe Tapp 5 points (2/4 FGs, 1/1 3Ps); Alan Ter Molen 4 points (1/4 FGs, 2/2 FTs); Richard Peperkorn 2 points (1/1 FGs)