Sometimes it’s the most basic things that make the biggest difference in the game of basketball.

Station Camp’s boy’s basketball team proved that Tuesday night, hitting 24-of-29 from the free throw line, and smothered Hendersonville with its defensive pressure to take a 63-52 victory over the Commandos.

“I think there were a couple of keys to our victory tonight over Hendersonville,” said Station Camp Coach Seth Massey. “We really played excellent defense tonight, and our shot selection was also pretty good.

“Because we were patient on the offensive end, we were also able to get to the (free throw) line where we also did pretty well.”

Station Camp (12-7, 4-3 9-AAA) had three players that finished in double figures led by Brad McClung, who led all scorers with 21 points, and freshman Kyle Anderton came off the bench to finish with 12 points in the Bison victory.

Hendersonville’s (12-7, 3-4) Jeff Long and Ryan Brown both finished the night with 17 points in the losing effort.

“You have to give (Station Camp) credit because they just controlled every facet of the game from outset tonight,” said Hendersonville Coach Kerry West. “They played better defense than we did, they shot the ball well from the field and the line, and bottom line they just wanted it more than we did tonight; they just whipped us.”

The Commandos got out to an early lead in the first quarter when Brown hit the first two field goals of the game, but Anderton brought the Bison back and led them to a 9-7 first period lead.

After both teams struggled from the field in the first quarter they made up for lost time in the second period.

McClung and Trae Hatcher scored over half of the Station Camp points as the two combined for 11 points, but Long kept the Commandos in striking distance, scoring eight of Hendersonville’s 15 points, however, the Bison still managed to increase its lead to 29-22 at the halftime break.

The two teams traded punches in the third quarter as McClung again led the way for the Bison with five points, and John Davis and Jamal Hollingsworth combined for 11 points, but Hendersonville wasn’t able to make up any ground and still trailed by seven points heading into the final quarter of play 41-34.

Station Camp put the game away in the fourth quarter hitting 16 free throws from the charity stripe.

McClung and Easton Cline combined for 11 free throws by themselves, and even though Brown hit a pair of three-pointers and a field goal, and Long added seven more points for the Commandos, the Bison still outscored Hendersonville 22-18 to go on to the 63-52 victory.

“We came out tonight and played with a purpose,” said McClung. “Even though everyone will look at our shooting as the reason we won the game tonight I think it was really our defense that made the difference because we’re more of a transition team.

“This was a big win for us, and it was good to see all our extra work at the free throw line paid off tonight to help us get the win.”

HENDERSONVILLE (52) – Jeff Long 17, Ryan Brown 17, John Davis 8, Jamal Hollingsworth 6, Tre Wallace 2, David Sheehan 2.

STATION CAMP (63) – Brad McClung 21, Kyle Anderton 12, Easton Cline 10, Ryan Hardin 7, Trae Hatcher 6, Dusty Buchanan 3, Josh Malone 2, Travis Bush 2.

Three-pointers: HHS (5) – Brown 3, Hollingsworth 2. SC (3) – McClung 1, Cline 1, Hatcher 1.

by Chris Lynn