On Friday night the Patriots entered the Myers Park game without Robert Bonar. The senior shooting guard suffered a torn meniscus during Tuesday’s home game against Garinger and is expected to miss the rest of the season. However, the Patriots survived a 24 point second quarter run by the Mustangs and took a 62-53 road win to remain one game behind the Butler Bulldogs in conference standings.

For the second straight game, Indy started the game with a cold shooting hand. The Patriots just couldn’t get anything to fall. About half way through the first quarter, Indy’s Coach Preston Davis started making substitutions and at the end of the quarter only one starter remained on the floor. Indy finished the quarter with a seven point lead 13-6.

In the second quarter the Mustangs came fighting back and at the 5:01 mark took their only lead 18-15. The Mustangs kept their run going and and led 28-17 with 1:51 to go in the half. In the final 1:51 the Patriots poured in eight points while holding the Mustangs to two points as Myers Park took a five point 30-25 half time lead.

Indy’s shooting problems continued in the third quarter. However, the Patriots picked up their defensive pressure which caused Myers Park to make several offensive mistakes and helped Indy to hold the Mustangs to only five third quarter points. Indy was able to tie the score at the 1:50 mark and take a 37-35 lead with 52.2 seconds left in the third quarter.

With six minutes to go in the fourth quarter the Patriots moved out to a seven point lead 47-40, but with 3:59 left in the quarter Indy’s point guard Chea Johnson got hit with a technical foul for questioning a call. Following the Mustangs’ made foul shots and getting the ball out-of-bounds, Myers Park cut Indy’s lead to six points 50-44. The Patriots shook off the call and went on to an eleven point lead to end the game with a 62-53 conference win.

Junior Jordan Mobley came off the bench and hit six of seven three pointers to lead the Patriots with 18 points. Justyn Hamilton added 12 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and had 3 blocks and one steal. Victor Tshiona finished the night with 8 points, led Indy with 9 rebounds, and had two steals. Raja Milton also had 8 points, 5 assists, 4 steals and one rebound. Matthew Smith hit for 6 points, pulled down 6 rebounds and had one steal. Andra Mckee had 6 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Matthew Statile had 2 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and one steal. Chea Johnson finished the night with 2 points, 3 assists and 2 steals.

From the floor Indy hit 19-of-59 shots for 32% and went 17-of-25 from the free throw line for 68%.

On Tuesday night the Patriots will travel to the “Rock” to take on the Rocky River Ravens (14-8, 5-5) in a Southwestern 4A Conference game. Should the Patriots (18-4, 9-1) come away with a victory that would set up a show down Friday night February 10 at Independence High School. The Patriots will host the unbeaten Butler Bulldogs (23-0, 11-0), and with a win Indy would tie Butler for the Southwestern 4A regular season championship.

This is a huge conference and rivalry game. Independence encourages you to arrive early as a sell out is expected. The girls game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and the boys tip off is set for 7:30 p.m.

Independence 13 12 12 25 – 62
MyersPark 6 24 5 18 – 53