Cloninger scores 30 as Morristown East eases past Science Hill

Coach Alden Collins’ Hurricanes took the lead late in the opening quarter and held it the rest of the way in dealing the always-tough Hilltoppers their seventh loss.

Mason Smith hit four three’s and added 14 points to the East attack.

Brady Lawson led Science Hill with 17 points and Mason Wood added 10.

Collins said it was a very good win for his team. “Effort and energy were definitely in the right direction for us. We started a little slow but played well once we got going. Hopefully we’re building confidence.”

One thing Collins was positive of. “It’s good to get back home. It was great to play without having to climb on a school bus and ride somewhere. After losing just once here last year, we needed to get back here and get that feeling and kind of re-energize our team.

“We got a great start when Mason hit the three and then Kyle was just feeling himself early on and had another big night,” Collins added. “Hopefully, we can just keep things going.”

Collins went on to say, “It’s always tough against Science Hill and we knew that’s what this would be. We love being home, playing in the gym we’re used to shooting in. Also playing with the energy of our crowd. It’s just good to be home.

“Mason hit some big three’s and that’s what we expect him to do,” Collins said. “He’s been struggling a little bit on the three-ball but tonight he knocked them down.”

The coach also thought Keagan Mink had a good night. “He didn’t score a lot tonight but he does a lot of things for us. He’s great on the glass on both ends and gets downhill on his defender and opens up three’s for our shooters.”

East finished the night shooting 44.5 percent by making good on 21 of 47. The Hurricanes were 8 of 23 from behind the arc. Science Hill hit 16 of 44 for 36.4 percent including 3 of 9 on three-point attempts.

The losers had a 31-29 rebounding edge as Lawson grabbed eight. Mink and Cloninger had 10 apiece for the ‘Canes.

After Smith hit a three to open the scoring, the ‘Toppers ran off five straight points to grab the lead.

However, Cloninger hit a free throw and then converted an old-fashioned three-point play. A bucket by Wood with 1:47 left in the opening period gave the visitors their final lead at 10-9.

Isaac Greene gunned in a three for East and Cloninger scored five straight and the Hurricanes led 17-12 at the first rest stop.

Wood hit the first bucket of the second stanza but East ran off eight straight as Cloninger and Smith hit triples and B. J. Hubbard scored inside.

Another three by Cloninger put East in front by 30-18 and Smith added another long bomb. Two foul shots by Cloninger gave the ‘Canes a 37-27 lead at halftime.

Smith opened the third frame with another triple, Mink hit two foul shots and Cloninger had a steal and layup and added a free throw when he was fouled on the play and East was on top 45-27.

The ‘Toppers cut the margin to 47-37 but Cloninger hit two baskets and Hubbard added another to close the third giving East a 53-39 lead.

East scored the first seven of the final frame to lead by 60-39 before the Hilltoppers cut into the final deficit against Hurricane reserves.