Sand Creek's boys cruise to another victory, this one over Widefield

In a game that appeared to be caught in a strobe light, host Sand Creek and Widefield, along with their fans, were stranded in a whistle-infested slugfest.

Call after call sent player after player to the bench, and the line, where the Scorpions hit 16-of-24 compared to the Gladiators’ 11-of-21. Exhausted by the stop-and-go play, Sand Creek (3-0) at least got to go home with a smile Thursday night after its 68-47 win over Widefield (1-1).

Sand Creek junior Dylan Clark scored 13 of his 16 points in the first half and senior Josh Smith scored 14 of his 17 in the second half, as the Scorpions won their third straight by 20-plus points to start the season.

Thursday, Sand Creek drowned Widefield’s Alan Herndon-led offense.

“We’ve had the two best defenses in Sand Creek history the past two seasons,” coach Joe Rausch said. “Tonight I felt we were great and these kids responded well (to the officiating).”

In the first quarter, Clark had the hot hand for Creek on both ends, as he drained a 3 with 3:20 left, and then quickly swiped the ball at midcourt before he finished an untouched layup to put the Scorpions up 7-2.

On the Scorpions’ next possession Smith finished a three-point play after he tore down an offensive board and bullied his way through 6-foot-9 Herndon.

“We really didn’t have a plan against him,” said Smith who covered the head-taller Herndon much of the game. “It just took the whole team to hold him off the boards and surround him. You can’t just post him up.”

The Scorpions led 35-18.Widefield’s Herndon had 10 points despite missing all four free throws.

“We’re missing some kids because they are injured,” said Widefield coach Brent Garretson who was minus Damian Chatman, Brandon Branch and Marquis Coddington. “And I think some of our kids were trying too hard and forcing stuff.”

In the second half, Smith scored 10 of Sand Creek’s first 11 points.

Early in the third quarter, Herndon appeared to twist his knee, and went to the floor and stayed there for a handful of minutes as the quarter expired.

Garretson said it was just “cramps” after the game.