Independence gets big win over Hough, 3 Takeaways from the game

Charlotte, NC – The Patriots are heading back to the state quarterfinals for the first time since its remarkable state-championship run during the 2017-2018 basketball season. Independence defeated Hough 52-41 at home Saturday night in front of a spectacular Patriots crowd, setting up a rematch with North Meck on Tuesday night. Though Independence won the game by double digits, the game was much closer than the score would indicate as Hough would use it’s dynamic ball control offense to slow the game down enough to keep the game close. However, the fourth quarter would prove to be the difference-maker, as the Patriots would take control late with key baskets and exceptional defense down the stretch. Here are 3 takeaways from Saturday’s game.

1. Hough’s slowed- down, meticulous offense really seemed to give the Patriots fits through the first three quarters of the game. The Huskies led 33-31 going into the fourth, as Beau Maye had a stellar night inside the paint. Centers who play with their back to the basket have become somewhat of a lost art in the game of basketball, yet the Huskies have found a way to master it. Maye finished with a game high 22.

2. Patriots back-court duo of Anthony Allen and Nygell “The Nightmare” Verdier, (as affectionately called by Patriots P.A. announcer Mike Berteilho), really got it done Saturday night. The pair tallied up 16 and 15 points respectively. Allen continued to find his favorite spot, the baseline-corner three, wide open while Verdier’s length and athletism bothered Hough on both ends of the floor.

3. One of the strangest fourth quarters we’ve seen in a while. Early in the final period, the game seemed to go in an erroneous direction with lots of foul calls, official conferences and a technical foul called on Hough forward Nathan Chambers that caused Huskies head coach Jason Grube to become livid on the sidelines. The tech was Chambers’ 5th foul, which sent the senior to the bench for the remainder of the game. Grube was not pleased with the call and it showed through the remainder of the game.

NEXT UP: Independence will head to Huntersville Tuesday night to face a North Meck Vikings team that has been cruising through the 4A playoffs, averaging 86 points per game, with a 19 point average margin of victory. The two met back on November 19, 2019, in which the Vikings won the contest 79-55. Last week, we broke down two plays from North Meck that showed us how tactical and precise the Vikings were on both sides of the ball. Click the videos below to take a look.