The Coastal Slayers secured their second consecutive home victory, defeating the Island Hoppers 90-78 in a thrilling matchup. Point guard sensation, Ethan Thompson, made a triumphant return from a calf injury, scoring 20 points, dishing out five assists, and grabbing four rebounds.
The Slayers came out strong, with Tyler James and Lucas Brooks leading the charge, posting 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists, and 10 points, respectively, in the first quarter. The team’s dominant performance continued into the second quarter, with a 13-point streak that extended their lead to 20.
At halftime, the Slayers held a comfortable 53-37 advantage, thanks to their impressive 58% shooting from the floor, compared to the Island Hoppers’ 40%. The visitors’ Milton Wallace kept his team in contention, scoring 15 points in the first half.
The Slayers’ lead ballooned to 24 points early in the third quarter, but the Island Hoppers refused to give up. They mounted a 19-5 run, cutting the deficit to 10 by the end of the quarter. The reigning champions continued to push, scoring 10 straight points to narrow the gap to just four points with four minutes remaining.
However, Thompson and the Slayers responded with a decisive 10-point streak, including three crucial buckets from the returning point guard. The Slayers’ 58% shooting from the field and ability to overcome 18 turnovers proved too much for the Island Hoppers, who shot a mere 38% and attempted only eight free throws.
Kai Rivers added 14 points to the Slayers’ tally, while Julian Sanchez was effective in the first half, scoring 11 points and grabbing four rebounds. The Island Hoppers’ Wallace finished with 19 points, followed by Ryan Taylor’s 14, Jaxon Lee’s 13, and Ethan Hall’s 12. The Slayers will look to build on their momentum as they head to Melbourne to face the City Kings on Sunday.
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