Redsides open up scoring floodgates

Travis Hayes drained eight 3-pointers for a game-high 30 points and the Redsides hit on 43 percent from the floor in a 95-32 win over Central Christian Saturday in Maupin.

The 95 points dropped by SWC, it was the second-highest number of the season, a few points behind the level hit on Dec. 21 in a 104-45 blowout triumph at the Culver Tournament.

“I did not want to have a postgame hangover after our emotional win over Dufur (Friday),” Hull said. “We want to continue to get better. We do not want to take any steps back, just steps forward. Each individual stepped up right from the beginning today and took off. That is what we are trying to do every game.”

In the first quarter of this game against Central, the No. 14-ranked Redsides had their motor running for an 18-10 advantage, kicking in a 21-10 rally to go out in front by a 39-20 cushion at halftime.

SWC nearly matched that first-half scoring output in the third quarter, as a 34-8 run equaled to a 73-28 lead.

Hayes, a hot-shooting sophomore guard, hit 11 of 19 shots, 8 for 15 from long distance.

He added four rebounds, six steals and two assists in his short stint on the hardwood.

In his second full varsity campaign, Hull said that Hayes is making a name for himself on a roster with seniors David Ocacio and Nathan Duling.

“Travis works hard at his game. He has an excellent shot,” Hull said. “He shoots with confidence. What our team does so well is give him the ball once he started hitting his shots. Travis does a good job of finding the open spots for his teammates to give him the ball in a good shooting area.”

Duling had 15 points, five rebounds and four steals, and Ocacio chipped in with nine points, five assists and three steals.

The underclassmen trio of Devan Dammann, Ellis Rager and Brody Myers kept their game going in this league battle with a combined 28 points on 10 of 25 from the field.

Dammann and Rager had 10 points each, and Myers kicked in eight points, as SWC connected on 38 of 87 from the floor.

SWC (10-7 overall, 5-3 league) heads out to St. Paul for a game versus Umpqua Valley Christian (8-5).

At 7:30 p.m. Friday, the Redsides host Griswold (3-12, 1-6).

Once these games go in the books, SWC faces a tough part of the schedule with dates against Sherman, Horizon Christian, Echo and Dufur.

“The stretch run of the season is going to be very important,” Hull said of the upcoming slate. “I hate to be cliché, but we are going to take it one game at time. Our goal is to hit that point of the season (districts) at our high point to continue to climb so we can give ourselves an opportunity to make some noise.”