A bevy of 3-pointers more than enough as Hornet boys coast

[caption id="attachment_130" align="alignright" width="225" caption="The Hornets are still on track for a shot at an SMAA crown after Friday night's victory."][/caption]

By RJ Walters / Daily News Sports Editor

As published in the Hillsdale Daily News on Feb. 21, 2009

Everything looked good from a distance for the Hillsdale Hornets Friday night.

A 26-point first half lead looked good to Hornet faithful in the stands, three players with at least 15 points looked good to head coach Brad Felix and almost every open 3-pointer looked like it was going in — and most of them did.

Senior Mitchell Gabriele drained seven 3-pointers, one short of Tyler Laser's school record, backcourt mate Scott Lantis hit five triples and the Hornets buried 13 shots from behind the arc altogether in a 75-56 SMAA road win at Leslie.

Gabriele poured in 28 points, including 13 in the first quarter, Lantis added 20 and Kelley finished with 15.Beyond their amazing efficiency from long range the Hornets did a much better job of keeping the Blackhawks stars in check than they did in past meetings.

Senior Trent Page scored 17 points in his first game back from a leave of absence after scoring 24 the last time he played the Hornets and Travis Crowe added 17 as well, 13 less than he scored at The Hive earlier this season.

The Hornets jumped out to a 24-11 first quarter lead behind four 3-pointers and then equaled that feat in the second quarter to take a 45-24 to the break.

The Blackhawks went on a little 6-0 run in the early stages of the third quarter and traded baskets with the Hornets throughout the second half, but got not closer than 16.

The win kept the Hornets SMAA title hopes well and alive and set up a mega showdown with Albion next Friday on Hillsdale's home floor.

The Hornets took out the Wildcats in Albion on a crazy banked-in Gabriele 3-pointer in overtime earlier this year.

The winner of Friday's contest will be outright conference champions.

Prior to that bout the Hornets host non-conference foe Harper Creek at 7:30 p.m. Monday.