By Nathan Hutchinson
Register Sports Editor
RICHMOND —
After a rather lackluster performance in an overtime win Tuesday against Tates Creek, Madison Central’s post players were challenged by the team’s coaching staff to be more aggressive and much more physical.
“We were disappointed,” Central coach Allen Feldhaus said. “We ripped them pretty good after the other night’s game.”
They certainly responded to that challenge.
Junior Quan Taylor had 24 points and 14 rebounds and senior Hunter Allen finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds as the No. 1 Indians (22-0) topped Russell County, 79-63, in Richmond.
Central had just a two-point lead at halftime, but forced 23 turnovers and used superior size and depth to pull away in the second half.
“They kind of got after us in practice,” Allen said of the Central coaches. “They wanted us to crash the boards and not worry about anything else.”
In the win over Creek, Central got out-rebounded 40-32. The Commodores also had 17 second-chance points.
Allen and Taylor combined for six points and 17 rebounds in the 70-65 victory.
“That was not the Quan Taylor we know,” Feldhaus said. “He answered. We do expect a lot of him.”
The Indians defeated Russell County 66-47 when the teams met in a tournament in Maysville last month.
This time, however, the Lakers had Tyler Robinson back in the lineup. The junior guard made a big-time impact, scoring 13 points in the first half as Russell County built a six-point lead (28-22).
“I think he had 28 points on us last year when we played them,” Feldhaus said of Robinson. “He’s a nice player.”
Robinson finished with 28 points again and also had seven rebounds.
Still, it wasn’t enough to lead Russell County to a victory over the undefeated Indians.
Central put together an 11-1 run in the closing minutes of the second quarter, taking the lead on a back-to-back three-pointers by Allen.
“I was feeling it. I don’t know why,” Allen said. “I was wide open. I heard someone say, ‘Shoot it,’ so, that’s what I did. I just listened to my instincts.”
Central opened the second half on a 12-4 run, including a three-pointer and a dunk from standout junior guard Dominique Hawkins, and never trailed again.
“We wore them down in the second half,” Feldhaus said. “When you’ve got athletes, you’ve got to take advantage of it.”
After shooting 31 percent from the field in the first half, Central shot 51 percent in the second.
The Indians got 35 points off turnovers, had 21 second-chance points and out-rebounded the Lakers 41-31.
“In the last game, we got out-rebounded,” Taylor said. “Coach just challenged us. We just worked hard.”
Hawkins finished with 24 points and six rebounds, John O’Bryan had seven points, Ken-Jah Bosley and Daniel Parke each had three points and DeMarcus George had two points.
Allen Feldhaus’ brother Willie is the head coach at Russell County. With the win, Allen has now beaten his brother five straight times.
The Indians are set to return to action Tuesday at Henry Clay.
