The Chillicothe Hornets hosted Ewing Marion Kauffman on Tuesday. Chillicothe entered at 10-8 while the Blue Knights were 13-4.
The shorthanded Hornets, missing two starters, struggled with the Kauffman pressure early, turning the ball over 8 times in the first quarter, allowing the Blue Knights to open up a 12 point lead. With just .8 seconds remaning in the first frame, Chillicothe inbounded the ball to Jaishon White who banked in a deep turnaround three while drawing a foul. White completed the 4 point play to make it 17-9 at the end of the first quarter.
White scored all 9 first quarter points but began getting some crucial contributions from his teammates. Chillicothe took better care of the ball, committing just five turnovers the final three quarters of the game at the Hornets whittled down the Blue Knights lead, trailing 25-21 at half.
Chillicothe’s defense held Kauffman to just five points in the 3rd quarter and 13 for the entire 2nd half. Jack Marshall played excellent on-ball defense and contributed six points while freshman Turner Jackson orchestrated the offense and contributed seven of his own.
After trailing by one entering the 4th quarter, Chillicothe finally regained the lead for the first time since the opening minutes. Jaishon White was unstoppable in his 6th game this season of 20+ points, finishing with 23 and 12 rebounds. The 4th quarter featured several lead changes, then White stepped to the free throw line trailing 38-37 with 1:08 remaining and calmly knocked down the pair. The Hornets came up with two consecutive stops which included forcing Ewing Marion Kauffman into a deep three at the buzzer that did not go in, and Chillicothe pulled out the gutsy 39-38 win.
The Hornets improve to 11-8 and will host Savannah in an MEC game on Friday.
Chillicothe 9 21 29 39
Kauffman 17 25 30 38
Individual scoring:
Chillicothe – White 23, Jackson 7, Marshall 6, Burke Beetsma 3
Kauffman – Dayvian Harvey 12, Omauriontae Sanders 11, Kanaan Hangust 7, Taiyon Young 6, William Wilson 2