Cary - Even though it was only a Junior Varsity game, any game between Athens Drive and Cary has meaning on any level.

Despite an early lead by the Jaguars, the Imps broke open the game late in first quarter and never looked back en route to a 55-35 Tri-8 conference victory at home.

CHS had three players in double digits in scoring and one double digit rebounder, while ADHS had two break into double digits in scoring and one record a double-double.

About three and half minutes in, Zach Bender (11 points, 12 rebounds) gave the Jaguars their last lead of the contest at 6-4, after his lay-up with 4:33 left in the first.

From there it was all Imps as they went on a 16-0 run to close out the quarter.  Sophomore DomiNick Downing got the run going by tying the score at 6 with his lay-up at 4:13 mark, then seconds later after a turnover by Bender, Sophomore Justin Byrd III put in a lay-up off an assist by fellow Sophomore Kelly Chege giving CHS an 8-6 lead.

Freshman Luke Akinsola hit a jumper with just under 3 minutes left in the quarter, then Cary showed they had their inside game going well as their next 6 points came off lay-ups, four of those points coming off fast-break opportunities off steals.  Sophomore Kendell Stephenson hit a three, with :29 seconds remaining, to close out the first quarter scoring and giving the Imps a 20-6 advantage.

The two teams exchanged baskets most of the second quarter keeping CHS's advantage between 11 and 13 points as Cary took a 30-17 lead into the locker room.

In a relatively quiet quarter for scoring, Cary did extend their lead out to their biggest advantage, 15 points, following a lay-up by Sophomore Nick Lansing.

The scoring picked up in the final quarter for both teams.

Following two free-throws by Freshman Stephen Bajorek for Cary, making it 39-23 and a 16 point advantage, Athens quitely climbed back into the contest going on a 7-0 run.

Bender started the run with a lay-up at the 6:52 mark, and another at 6:01, making it 39-27, CHS.  Bryan Harward made a lay-up with just under 5 minutes left, off an assist from Hunter Williams cutting the Cary lead to 10.  Williams hit one of two free-throws cutting the Imp's lead down to 9, 39-30, with 4:03 left in the game.

CHS responded by going on a 11-0 run and opening their lead back up to a 20 point advantage at 50-30. 

Downing and Bajorek both hit one of two from the line to open the run, then Lansing, with 3:06 left on the clock, hit a lay-up making it 43-30.  Byrd hit a three from the left side of the arc with 2:42 left and then hit two from the line making it an 18 point lead, 48-30, with just over 2 minutes left.  Akinsola closed out the run hitting two at the line making it 50-30, and the 20 point seperation.

Cary controlled the remaining time in the quarter and came away with a 55-35 conference win at home.

Scoring Summary:

Athens Drive:

Z. Bender - 11 points, 12 rebounds; B. Snotherly - 10 points, 5 rebounds; B. Harward - 4 points; B. Smith - 3 points; C. Curdts - 2 points; J. Reynolds - 2 points, C. Gorman - 2 points; H. Williams - 1 point

Total FG% - 26.4%; 3-point % - 0.0%; Free Throw % - 63.6%

Cary:

N. Lansing - 12 points; J. Byrd III - 11 points; D. Downing - 10 points; L. Akinsola - 7 points; K. Stephenson - 5 points; S. Bajorek - 3 points, 11 rebounds; A. Foster II - 2 points; J. McCauley - 2 points; A. Winston - 2 points; M. Campbell - 1 point.

Total FG% - 40.8%; 3-point % - 20.0%; Free Throw % - 59.1%