The Recorder on February 06, 2025
With the clock winding down, Elijah Good (31) ignites a fire in Zach Armstrong, pushing him to give everything he’s got in the final moments of the game against Union. (Recorder photos by David Cockerham)
MONTEREY — Inside, the trio of John Wagner, Elijah Good and Eli Moore were dominant.
Outside, Zach Armstrong and Patton Hull distributed.
Together, the Highland Rams got it done yet again.
Coach Thomas Moore and his crew won their seventh straight game here Tuesday night, this one a Pioneer District victory over Eastern Montgomery, 61-49.
Wagner scored 23 points and had 11 rebounds, Good had 16 points and 11 boards and Moore coupled 13 points with nine rebounds for the Rams, who led from start to finish.
Highland shot 54 percent from the floor (22-for-41) and out-rebounded the Mustangs 38-23, avenging an overtime loss in Elliston last month.
“We always have an advantage inside with our three six-footers,” said Wagner, who missed the game at Eastern Montgomery. “And we have great outside shooters. So, we get that inside game set up and that also gets our outside game set up. We just play from there — play to our advantages.”
Senior Eli Moore makes a game-changing play, securing a crucial rebound in the heat of battle against Union last Saturday.
Armstrong had five points, 12 assists and three steals, while Hull had four points, five assists and two steals.
The Ram fivesome played all but a few seconds at the end of the second and third quarters.
Wagner picked up his fourth foul with his team up 48-35 with 5:41 to play, while Hull was whistled for his fourth with 3:08 left and his team up 50-40.
Neither fouled out.
“I had to back off a little bit, but still play defense,” Wagner said. “I didn’t want them to get anything easy up there — hands up defense.”
Eastern Montgomery sliced its 13-point deficit to eight, 50-42, with three minutes left, but a Wagner score, a free throw, and drive to the basket by Armstrong and a 5-for-6 effort at the free throw line in the last minute sealed the victory.
“Just be patient right there,” said Moore of his team’s play down the stretch. “Our guys were winded. We didn’t have to score anymore. Be patient and go to the free throw line.”
Patton Hull (11) leads a fast break. (Recorder photos by David Cockerham)
Ten of Highland’s 14 first-quarter points came off offensive rebounds and Armstrong closed the half with an assist to Good and a steal and feed to Wagner to put the hosts up five, 27-22.
The lead grew to double figures by the end of the third quarter and was as much as 13 in the final period.
“Anytime we play, we try and work it inside,” said Moore. “Rebounding — that was the big key to the game, holding them to one shot and hitting the offensive boards.”
Talan Bruce scored 13 points for Eastern Montgomery, which had knocked off Narrows last week. Grayson Caldwell added 10.
The key to the seven-game win streak for the Rams?
“We’re playing as a team,” said Wagner.
“Just hustle and playing together,” added the coach. “These guys are doing a good job.”
Highland, now 3-4 in the Pioneer District and 10-6 overall, was scheduled for an area showdown at Bath County on Wednesday. They go to Narrows on Monday and host the Chargers in a rematch next Wednesday.
John Wagner glides to the hoop, posting 23 points against East Mont.
The Rams picked up two other home wins last week, beating Boys Home, 71-39, last Thursday and Union Educational Complex, 47-46, on Saturday afternoon.
Wagner scored 26 points and Eli Moore added 20 against Boys Home.
Highland led 35-18 at the half.
Good was the third Ram in double figures with 10 points.
Armstrong put together 13 assists with eight rebounds and five steals for the winners, Moore’s double-double included 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals and Good had nine boards.
The Rams rallied from a six-point halftime deficit and held off Union late on Saturday.
The game was tied at 35-all after three quarters, before Highland outscored Union 12-11 in the final eight minutes.
Wagner scored 18 points, while Hull and Armstrong scored eight apiece.
Good had a team-high 11 rebounds, Moore had seven rebounds and three blocked shots and Armstrong had eight assists, five rebounds and four steals.
Braylon Ward had 20 points for the Tigers.
The Rams played a junior varsity game against Boys Home last Thursday, losing to the Bears, 70-14.
Chase Lupo and Matthew Wigal both had six points for Highland and Owen Honaker added two.
Last Thursday’s boxscore
• Boys Home (39): Individual scorers not released
• Highland (71): Zach Armstrong 5, Elijah Good 10, Terrance Hill 2, Patton Hull 8, Eli Moore 20, John Wagner 26
• Halftime: Highland 35, Boys Home 18
• 3-point goals: Highland 5 (Wagner 3, Hull 2); Boys Home 4
Saturday’s boxscore
• Union Educational (46): Hunter Gaither 4, John Willis 0, Corbin Streets 6, Braylon Ward 20, Jacob Wolfe 2, Jacob Haynes 12, Eric Linkswiler 2
• Highland (47): Zach Armstrong 8, Elijah Good 6, Patton Hull 8, Eli Moore 7, John Wagner 18
• Halftime: Union 29, Highland 23
• 3-point goals: Union 4 (Haynes 4); Highland 4 (Hull 2, Armstrong 1, Wagner 1)
Tuesday’s boxscore
• Eastern Montgomery (49): William Covey 0, Grayson Caldwell 10, Cyrus Underwood 9, Kellan Stewart 3, Cam Sutphin 7, Talan Bruce 13, Marshall Tate 7, Austin Tate 0
• Highland (61): Zach Armstrong 5, Elijah Good 16, Owen Honaker 0, Patton Hull 4, Eli Moore 13, John Wagner 23
• Halftime: Highland 27, Eastern Montgomery 22
• 3-point goals: Eastern Montgomery 4 (Bruce 2, Caldwell 1, Sutphin 1); Highland 0