The Independence men’s basketball team responded to a three game losing skid by scoring early and often in a game where they never trailed to open conference play with a 69-52 win Friday night at home.

Anthony Allen led four Patriot players in double figures with 20 points, 2 assists and 1 steal.  Nygell Verdier added 15 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and had 2 assists.   Omarion Bodrick had a double-double.  He scored 12 points and pulled down a team high 13 rebounds.  He also had 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots.   Jalen Hinton reached double figures with 10 points.  He had 1 rebound, 3 assists, 3 steals and 1 blocked shot.

Tachai Miller scored 4 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists.  Divine Allah had 4 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist and 1 steal.  De’Drick Givens scored 2 points, pulled down 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.  Reggie Smith finished the night with 2 points, 1 rebound and 1 blocked shot.

Indy’s Omarion Bodrick and Nygell Verdier started the game by giving Indy a 4-0 lead.  The Bulls answered with a 3-point basket to make the score 4-3 until Anthony Allen drained a baseline 3-pointer to make the score 7-3.

With 5:30 left in the quarter, Nygell Verdier nailed a 3-point basket and a dunk by Omarion Bodrick made the score 12-5.  Seconds later Anthony Allen made the score 15-7 on a 3-point basket from the left elbow.

With a minute left in the period, Divine Allah hit two from the free throw line and at the 30 second mark Omarion Bodrick pulled down an offensive rebound and dunked the ball to give the Patriots a 21-12 first quarter lead.

The second quarter started with another Omarion Bodrick rebound and stick back to make the score 23-12.

After Hickory Ridge scored 4 unanswered points, Anthony Allen found Jalen Hinton in the paint, made the pass and Hinton made the layup to make the score 25-16.

At the 4:48 mark, Jalen Hinton hit a 3-point basket to put Indy up 28-16.

After a Bulls’ basket, Indy’s Reggie Smith grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to give the Patriots a 12-point lead 30-18.

After Hickory Ridge scored on a jumper in the lane and picked up two more after an Indy turnover, Anthony Allen created a turnover and drove to the basket for the dunk to make the score 32-22.

Nygell Verdier finished the period by scoring on a  baseline basket and then driving to the rim to make the halftime score 36-26.

In the third period Indy moved out to an eleven point lead 41-32 with 4:19 left in the quarter.  The Bulls cut the score to six points 43-37 with 1:35 showing on the clock.  Omarion Bodrick scored a dunk, and Anthony Allen picked up a loose ball and scored to make the score 47-37 with one minute left in the quarter.

After Hickory Ridge made two foul shots, Nygell Verdier hit a jumper but the Bulls went back to the line and made both shots to make the score 49-41 at the end of three quarters.

With 6:58 left in the game, Hickory Ridge scored on a free throw, and 40 seconds later they were back at the line shooting two shots.  The Bulls missed both of their free throws but got the rebound and scored cutting Indy’s lead to five 49-44.

After a time out, Anthony Allen hit a 3-point basket, and Tachai Miller nailed an eight foot jumper to make the score 54-44 with 5:38 left in the game.

With the game winding down, Anthony Allen scored at the 2:48 mark.  On the Bulls next possession, they turned the ball over, and Tachai Miller scored making the score 60-47.  The Bulls made one of two two free throws then Indy’s Jalen Hinton drained a 3-pointer making the score 63-48.

With two minutes left in the game, Anthony Allen picked up a loose ball and started down the floor.  A Hickory Ridge player fouled Allen from behind and was called for an intentional foul.  Allen went to the line and made both of the free throws giving Indy a 65-48 lead.

With 1:30 left in the period, Omarion Bodrick drove the baseline for the layup 67-51 in Indy’s favor.

Jalen Hinton finished the scoring with a basket to make the score 69-51.  The Bulls would score from the charity stripe to make the final score 69-52.

The Patriots are 3-4 overall and 1-0 in the conference.  Their next contest will be on Tuesday night at East Mecklenburg High School where they will take on the Eagles in a Southwestern 4A conference game.

Hickory Ridge   12  14  15  11  –  52

Independence   21  15  13  20  –  69