COLUMBUS — Heritage Academy certainly had to shake off the rust on Friday afternoon, taking on Magnolia Heights in its first game action since the holiday break.
The Patriots struggled in the first quarter, taking a three-point lead over the Chiefs after the first quarter, but never fully grabbed hold of momentum.
That was, until senior Whit Altmyer found a second gear in the second quarter, scoring 10 of Heritage’s 24 points in the quarter, giving the Pats a double-digit advantage going into the half.
It didn’t take long, but the rust got shaken off quickly as Heritage dominated Magnolia Heights on the day, winning 68-52.
“Coming off of a break, we gotta get used to playing back with each other,” Altmyer said. “We’ve only had a few practices within the last few weeks, but I think we found our identity in the second quarter. We got things going and stayed hot.”
The senior led Heritage (11-3, 2-1 in district) with 21 points on the day, one of three players in double-figures and multiple made three-pointers and one of two with a 20-point night, joining Jack Ketchum.
Once the Pats found their stride in the second quarter, they seemed unstoppable, hitting two or more three-pointers in each of the last three quarters of the game, eight overall in the win.
A flurry of threes at the end of the fourth quarter helped stretch the lead back to nearly 20 as Heritage put the cherry on top of a big district win.
“We want to try to get it to the rim, get in the paint and be physical,” head coach Andrew Howell said. “Against a well-coached team like Magnolia Heights, you try to find any shot that you can get. … Our guys are good enough. They understand what good shots are and bad shots are and if they get an open look from three, we’re going to let them have it.”
Open looks became the norm on the day for Heritage, an unrelenting offense that got better as the game matured.
An early loss in district play was the opposite of what the Pats were looking for to begin their schedule, but it taught this team plenty as the home stretch for the playoffs gets closer and closer.
“I think we should be No. 1,” Altmyer said. “There’s no reason we shouldn’t be No. 1 in our district for sure.”
Heritage girls 53, Magnolia Heights 23
Friday’s doubleheader opener was a blowout from the start in favor of Heritage Academy, jumping out to a 10-0 lead early as the rout was on.
The rout didn’t stop as the game wore on as the Patriots, who hadn’t played a game since Dec. 16, looked far from a team coming back from a three-week break.
They were prepared for a district battle, and that battle comfortably went their way for their first district win of the season, a 53-23 blowout of the Chiefs.
“I’m just really glad to be back playing,” head coach Moe Reed said. “It’s been quite a break and I’m just really proud of the girls getting back on the floor and playing.”
Heritage (10-4, 1-2 in district) didn’t just play, it dominated on the backs of seniors Chloe Boyd and Caroline Peal, a duo that put up 29 of the Pats’ 53 points in the win.
Jalecia McShane was right behind them as the freshman standout finished with 13 points, 10 of which were scored in the second half.
However, it was the senior duo that stood out, making an early calendar year statement for the rest of the 2023-24 season.
“This is probably the first game of the year that I’ve really seen the confidence out of [Peal],” Reed said. “I really hope this is an indicator for the rest of January that her confidence is growing. We all know what her capabilities are. … Chloe, she plays hard. She’s a fierce competitor. For her to come off vacation playing with such confidence, I was very pleased.”
Seven games remain for the Pats, six of which coming in district play, and with them currently sitting at 1-2, every one of those district games carries added importance to secure a spot in the postseason upcoming.
“They don’t realize how good they are sometimes and how good they can be,” Reed said. “Them finally turning the corner and believing in themselves, I’m really happy to see that because that gives us another dimension on offense that can help us in the postseason.”
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