AFC’s run-&-gun offense too much for Amboy

ASHTON – A little run and gun added up to a lot of fun for the Ashton-Franklin Center boys basketball team in its season opener on Monday night against Amboy.

The Raiders began defense of their own Thanksgiving tournament with a 78-41 victory against the Clippers in Ashton. It was the first of three meetings between the teams, as they will also meet Jan. 6 and Jan. 23 in NUIC East play.

AFC turned an early 5-2 deficit into a 22-5 lead to put the game on ice. Garrett Drew hit all three of his 3-point attempts during that span, and the Raiders also got a number of run-out layups.

With a lineup that doesn’t have anyone over 6-foot-1, getting the running game in gear will be a key for the Raiders.

“We did the things that we have to do to be successful this year,” AFC coach Russ Zick said. “We’ve got to hit some 3s, press – we’re really short, so we’re going to have to be able to do that to win.”

“I think as the game wore on, we did a great job of what our coach preaches,” senior guard Caleb Drew added. “He’s always talking about pushing the ball, and I thought we did that well.”

Amboy’s Logan Welchel banked in a 3 at the first-period buzzer to get his team to within 22-8, but it was all AFC after that. The Raiders’ lead grew to 27 points (37-10) after a basket by Caleb Drew with 3 minutes left in the second quarter, and they led 39-12 at the break.

Amboy’s Justin Hart, who averaged 13.3 points per game as a junior, missed all five of his first-half field goal attempts and was scoreless the first 16 minutes of play. He found the range in the third quarter, however, as he hit 6 of 8 shots, including three 3-pointers, to score 15 points. Hart finished with a team-high 19 points.

Mitchell McLaughlin and Maverick Lindenmeyer each finished with eight points for Amboy, and Welchel added six. Reece Vaessen grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

Caleb Drew hit 9 of 15 shots and led all scorers with 20 points, while Adam Hart finished with 13 points and seven boards. Garrett Drew scored nine points, and Cody Penick added eight.

Twelve of the 15 Raiders that saw action scored at least two points, as reserves for both teams took over down the stretch.

Boys basketball

AFC tournament

AFC 78, Amboy 41

Star of the game: Caleb Drew (AFC), 20 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals

Key performers: Justin Hart (AMB), 19 points; Adam Hart (AFC), 13 points, 7 rebounds

Up next: Amboy vs. Hiawatha, 6 p.m. Wednesday; LaMoille-Ohio at AFC, 7:30 p.m. tonight