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Fortner, Simmons lead SM to win over East Henderson
C.J. Fortner scored 21 points while Jackson Simmons had 20 points and claimed 10 rebounds as Smoky Mountain took a 77-49 Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball victory at East Henderson on Jan. 15.
Colton Hunt added 16 points to go with five steals and four assists for the Mustangs.
Michael Robinson led the Eagles with 16 points, and Matt Dorn had 10.
“I was very pleased with the way we played in the second half,” Coach Jimmy Cleaveland said. “We played our game, and it showed. When things started clicking, we started playing like we’re capable of playing.”
Smoky Mountain’s Colton Hunt scores two of his 16 points in last week’s 77-49 win at East Henderson. – Herald photo by Carey Phillips
Both teams started slow with SM scoring first on Fortner’s three-pointer almost three minutes into the game.
The score was tied three times in the first quarter, which ended 7-7.
The Mustangs opened the second period on a 15-3 run, including four each by Simmons and Hunt, for a 22-10 lead after Fortner’s three-pointer at the 3:43 mark.
The biggest margin of the half was 32-17 following Simmons’ basket with 50 seconds on the clock, and it was 32-20 at intermission.
Robinson’s three-pointer cut the gap to 34-25 with 6:26 to go in the third quarter.
SM scored the next six points to lead 40-25 on Cort Smith’s follow shot at the 4:43 mark.
The Mustangs were up 52-35 after Hunt’s three-point play with 55.9 seconds to play in the stanza, and they led 52-38 at the quarter break.
Hunt’s six points keyed an 11-2 spurt extending the margin to 71-44 with 2:30 left in the game.
The final represented the biggest lead.
Four of Fortner’s six field goals were three-pointers, and he made five foul shots. Simmons hit nine field goals and two free throws. Hunt’s points came on six field goals, including a trey, and three foul shots.
Martin Davis netted seven points, Smith finished with six, John Luke Carter scored three, and John Brown and Adam Henson both had two.
Brown handed out six assists.
“Jackson played very well in a lot of different ways,” Cleaveland said.
The Mustangs shot 51.8 percent from the floor.
The SM JVs won 61-49. Jacob George scored 19 points followed by Trent Cagle with 14 and Joe Davis with 10.
The Mustangs led at quarter breaks by scores of 24-12, 34-28 and 47-38.
“We came out and jumped on them early,” Coach Brandon Pendergast said. “We played good aggressive basketball and looked a lot better than Friday against Brevard. We played good defense and pushed the ball up the court.”
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