Heidelberg made a huge statement to Class 2A basketball Friday night in a crucial Region 5-2A showdown in Heidelberg.
Randarius Hughes had a monster first period, and the Oilers frustrated a good Taylorsville team early and to the point of no return. Hughes opened the game swishing two from long range and hitting a free throw before the Tartars could even blink. Quandarius Bender also factored offensively in the first and capped off a 22-3 Oilers first-period run with a three of his own. The early energy of the entire Heidelberg starting group eventually led to a 90-45 dismantling of Taylorsville.
“We told these guys at the beginning of the game this is an energy game. We pointed out to them basketball is about heart, and you have to put a body on somebody. The guys went into the game with that and we rebounded the ball well. That's what we really wanted to do to control those guys, and they did it well,” said Heidelberg head coach Billy Wright.
Hughes' opening period and performance throughout the entire game was noticed by everybody in the Heidelberg High Gym, especially Wright.
“Hughes was dialed in the whole night. I've never seen him play like this but one other time,” he said of the senior guard who finished with a game-high 34 points on the night.
Region leading Heidelberg (18-5, 6-0) was taken to the wire by the Tartars (12-5, 4-2) on January 7 in Taylorsville in a 79-75 Oilers win. Heidelberg left nothing to question Friday night or earlier this week with a 66-41 toppling of Bay Springs. And, for all intents and purposes, the Oilers have wrapped up the Region 5-2A Title with the victory, barring a monumental meltdown in its final four games of the regular season.
“We feel good, but right now we have a lot of nagging injuries, and it's time to rest some and play more of the second group guys,” Wright explained.
The Oilers will finish off region play and the regular season against Mize [1-5 in region], Enterprise [1-5 in region, Puckett [2-4 in region], and Bay Springs [4-2 in region].
Heidelberg took its huge run in the first period against Taylorsville Friday night to the half leading 50-29. The Oilers led 70-38 at the end of the third period, and cruised through the final period.
“As a team we have played well all season long. We are going to battle it out, and get to that championship round,” said Heidelberg guard Donavan Parker.
Hughes talked about how the team relies on one another as a team to get the job done. Parker had a dominate game against Bay Springs earlier this week.
“I hit that first three tonight, and I knew I had to put the team on my back and keep going. He [Parker] put the team on his back the other night against Bay Springs,” he said. “It's just a steady rotation. It's really important to have that with the whole team.”
“It's team effort,” Parker noted. “We've just got to rock together as a team and get that trip.”
Along with Hughes' 34 point effort which included four three-pointers and several dunks, Bender finished with 25 points. Tashun Clarke scored 9, Parker scored 7, and Kadavian Barnette scored 6 to round out the Oilers' top point producers.
Heidelberg will take on Mize this Tuesday night at home.
