Boys basketball: Ben Hintzsche scores 22 as H-BR runs past Indian Creek

HINCKLEY – It was unanimous among the two competing coaches. Transition offense was the deciding factor in the Hinckley-Big Rock Royals’ 66-34 boys basketball victory over the Indian Creek Timberwolves on Tuesday.

“The biggest thing was transition,” Timberwolves coach Nolan Govig said. “We’d miss a shot, they’d have it and be down the floor scoring before we were even set up. It’s hard to get set in a zone like we were trying to get into when they can take it down so fast.”

Indian Creek kept close with the Royals throughout the first half of the Little Ten Conference game, trailing 30-21 at halftime. Hinckley-Big Rock (13-8, 6-1 LTC) put the game away in the third quarter by outscoring the Timberwolves, 22-6.

“They played really hard in the first half,” Royals coach Seth Sanderson said. “Our pressure was working in the first half. We didn’t convert on some of those possessions with transition looks that we’re used to. In the second half, we refocused and got back to finishing the ball. We did a much better job finishing around the rim scoring off some of those turnovers.”

Royals guard Ben Hintzsche had a game-high 22 points, including eight in Hinckley-Big Rock’s game-breaking third quarter.

“I think this was our best game in transition,” Hintzsche said. “I think that just created a lot of lanes for me to drive. … It just shows off what we stress in practice where we want to be more conditioned than the other teams. That and our ability to stay composed and not hurry with it really shows off what we do in practice.”

It wasn’t just the transition game working for the Royals, as defensive pressure and crashing the glass on offense led other players to breakout performances.

Guard Judson Scott finished with 14 points, mainly off Timberwolves turnovers the Royals created with an effective full-court trap. Royals forward Marvin Ledbetter finished with 12 points in a starting role with most of his scoring coming on second-chance opportunities under the basket.

“In the first half we had double-digit turnovers but just weren’t able to convert,” Sanderson said. “I was really happy with the defensive pressure. In terms of offensive rebounding, we have some size this year, so that’s something we’re preaching to them all year is to go crash the boards.”

The Royals took a 17-9 lead into the second quarter before having to pull three of their starters because of early foul trouble. Still, Hinckley Big-Rock carried a nine-point lead into the halftime break.

Timberwolves guard-forward Cole Oleson led the first-half challenge of Indian Creek (4-16, 2-5) with 13 points in the first two quarters. Oleson finished with 18, but none of his teammates managed more than two field goals on the night.

Indian Creek managed a quick 3-pointer to start the second half, but it was nearly all Royals for the remainder of the third quarter. By midway through the fourth, both teams had subbed out starters in favor of role players.

Royals guard Gavin Cotton added three points from the free-throw line, and Timberwolves guard-forward Alex Schramer gave the visiting fans something to cheer for with a 3-pointer.

Both teams are scheduled for nonconference action Saturday. The Royals host Alden-Hebron, while the Timberwolves visit Westminster Christian in Elgin.