Morgan’s double-double leads Mathews to easy win

By JIM FLICK

sports@vindy.com

WARREN — Five players scored in double figures for Mathews on Tuesday night, as the Mustangs crushed Windham 76-42 in a Division IV district semifinal at Warren Harding High.

Chris Morgan led the scoring barrage for Mathews (18-4), tallying 17 points while hauling down 12 rebounds.

Corey Lumley scored 14 points for the Mustangs, while Shane Link, Rick Sommers and Cole O’Dell each contributed 10 points.

For Windham (12-11), Tyler Pennington connected for 15 points and Matt Knight added 12.

Even more impressive than Mathews’ high-powered offense was their defense. The Mustangs held the Bombers to only nine points in the second quarter and five points in the third quarter.

Facing a determined defense, Windham sank only 17 of 58 shots. The Mustangs also dominated the boards. Morgan was the game’s leading rebounder, and Lumley grabbed nine.

“We’ve defended and rebounded well all year,” said Mathews coach Ron Price. “We’ve got some pretty active kids.”

Price also praised his players for “sharing the ball. They bought into that from the start of the season.” Nine Mathews players scored.

Besides the statistical leaders, Price said, Rick Sommers was a key to the Mustangs’ success. “He’s the guy who battles and scraps. He really competes.”

The entire team “played very hard, and that’s all I can ask for,” Price added.

Mathews is “a very good team, a talented team,” said Windham coach Marty Hill. “And we really made them look great tonight.

“They never gave us a chance,” Hill added. “This was a lesson for us tonight.”

The first lessons of the night came from Lumley. He missed the first shot of the game, but grabbed the rebound and tossed the ball in.

On Windham’s first possession, Lumley stole the ball, dribbled the length of the court and scored. After Morgan connected on a short jumper, Lumley again stole the ball and again tossed in a layup to put the Mustangs in front 8-0.

Pennington scored Windham’s first points when he tossed in a 3-pointer, but Mathews led 17-10 at the end of the first quarter.

The Mustangs played even stronger defense in the second quarter, when they held Windham to just nine points. Link gave Mathews its first 10-point lead, 22-12, when he stole the ball and tossed in a layup.

Mathews led 37-19 at halftime and turned up the defensive pressure in the third quarter, outscoring Windham 18-5. Mathews doubled the Bombers’ point total, 48-24, after Collin Bowser sank a long jump shot.