CJ Ingram lifts Hawthorne boys basketball to win over P.K. Yonge – Gainesville Sun
HAWTHORNE — For the second time this season, the P.K. Yonge Blue Wave and the Hawthorne Hornets’ boys basketball teams met on the hardwood Thursday night.
The two teams’ first meeting came on Dec. 27, where a fast start paced the Blue Wave to a 15-point win.
And despite sprinting out to another quick lead, P.K. Yonge (6-9) wouldn’t find the same result in the second game of the series as Hawthorne (4-2) defended its home floor at Earl Gay Gymnasium and walked away with a 70-59 win.
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Last time they met:P.K. Yonge-Hawthorne basketball photo gallery
Here are takeaways from the rematch:
CJ Ingram puts on a show
Looking back at Hawthorne’s loss to P.K. Yonge last month, Hawthorne head coach Greg Bowie said his team, which features many players from Hawthorne’s state championship-winning football team, just wasn’t in basketball shape yet.
However, Hawthorne sophomore CJ Ingram, who happens to be the Hornets’ quarterback and Bowie’s nephew, isn’t a guy the Hornets have to worry about returning to basketball shape.
“I don’t think he ever leaves basketball shape,” Bowie said. “It might take him a little while to find his rhythm … getting up and down the court, seeing the floor, making the right passes and making the right decisions … that’s natural to him.”
Ingram ended the first quarter with a booming block. And while the Hornets entered the second quarter trailing the Blue Wave 10-7, Ingram’s block seemed to be the match that ignited the Hornets, who went on to outscore the Blue Wave 27-13 in the second frame.
Ingram recorded 10 of his floor-leading 25 points in the second quarter, and capped off the period with a steal, which turned into a crowd-pleasing dunk on the other end of the floor.
“I think the ceiling is high for him in either sport,” Bowie said of his dual-sport nephew. “He enjoys doing both. And as a sophomore right now, he has time.”
Turnovers translate for the Hornets
Ingram’s steal and dunk to end the first half was just one example of a game-long trend for the Hornets.
Once Hawthorne settled into the game, it began smothering P.K. Yonge and forcing a slew of turnovers, which the Hornets were able to turn into points.
“What helped us the most was their point guard being in foul trouble,” Bowie said. “He’s their primary ball-handler, so we were able to defend a little bit better. He kinda makes them go.”
The Blue Wave’s point guard, senior Elijah Harris, fouled out with 45 seconds to play in the third quarter after tallying 10 points.
Without Harris on the floor, Hawthorne was able to exploit the Blue Wave as the Hornets went on to force 14 steals, with Ingram leading the way with five.
“We take pride in defense,” Bowie said. “If you can get in there and take a charge, get a five-second call and play defense, that makes you as valuable as the guy that’s scoring all the points.”
P.K. Yonge sees three finish in double figures
While the Blue Wave didn’t get the result it wanted Thursday night, it was still left with plenty to be encouraged about.
Senior Isaiah Cooper led P.K. Yonge’s scoring efforts with 18 points, which included a 4-for-5 performance from the free-throw line.
Meanwhile, fellow senior Moses Horne was right on Cooper’s heels with 16 points. Horne, who got the Blue Wave out to their hot start, knocked down the game’s first points with a three-pointer and shortly followed it with a dunk that brought the fans in the visiting stands to their feet.
Harris’ 10 points rounded out the Blue Wave’s double-digit scoring trio.