BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Andru Siemer scored 18 of his game-high 21 points in the second and third quarters as the Keystone Heights High School boys basketball team built and maintained a big lead in defeating Tavares 70-34 on day-one action at a winter tournament hosted by Bradford High School on Dec. 27.
The Indians (4-7) made five of their first seven field-goal attempts in building an 11-7 lead in the first quarter. A drive to the basket by Darrion Grady led to a layup by Garrison Teague, followed by Zane Leger scoring off his own backcourt steal. Grady later made a three-pointer, while Teague scored on another layup, which was created by Bryce Hollingsworth’s drive to the basket.
Keystone missed its next eight shot attempts and clung to an 11-10 lead entering the second quarter.
The Indians scored six straight points in taking a 17-12 lead early in the second quarter. Siemer had a layup off a Teague assist and later followed that with a basket off an offensive rebound. Siemer then recorded an assist on a basket by Michael Petty.
Siemer and Tavares’ Matthew Chavez traded three-point baskets before the Indians made two straight baskets — one by Petty and one by Grady.
The Bulldogs’ Steven King was fouled on a three-pointer. He made two of his three free-throw attempts, leaving Tavares trailing 24-19. King later made two free throws to make it a three-point game, while the Bulldogs’ Izayia Williams rebounded his own miss and scored to make the score 24-23.
Keystone then scored eight straight to close out the half. Siemer made two free throws and added a basket off a Teague assist to make it 28-23. Hollingsworth sank a three-point shot and was later fouled with 22.9 seconds remaining. He made one free throw to send the Indians into halftime leading 32-23.
A basket off a Leger drive was the start of a 15-2 Keystone run to open the third quarter. Siemer had a three-pointer and later grabbed a defensive rebound and threw a pass downcourt to Grady for another score. Teague made two free throws and recorded an assist on a Siemer basket to put the Indians up by eight. Consecutive baskets by Seimer and Teague — off Petty and Connor Guy assists, respectively — gave Keystone a 47-25 lead.
Teague, who had six points in the third quarter, finished with 12 points. Petty, who had eight points in the final quarter, also scored 12.
The Indians also got nine points from Grady, eight from Hollingsworth, six from Leger and two from Zeke Pelham.
Keystone plays Ridgeview on day two of the tournament at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 28.
