Tornadoes Race Past Hays/L.P, 78-33, Sit at 5-3
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Turner sophomore Caleb Zellmer scores two of his seven first half points in the Tornadoes 78-33 win over Hays/Lodge Pole Friday night.
The Turner Tornadoes began the new year with a home contest against the Box Elder Bears. In a nip and tuck battle it was Box Elder securing a 56-46 win over the Tornadoes. Friday night Turner had their way with the visiting Thunderbirds running their fast break offense to perfection in a lopsided 78-33 win.
Against the Bears the Tornadoes found themselves in a battle right from the opening tip. Box Elder took a 10-6 lead early on. Turner trimmed a couple points off before the break and trailed 21-19 at the half.
Both teams had their turn at seizing the momentum but in the end it was the Bears that found their mark. Box Elder's strong second half powered the visitors to a 56-46 win over the Tornadoes. Junior Ryan Doyle paced the Turner effort with 22 points on the night.
Friday the Tornadoes hosted the Thunderbirds and kicked their offense into high gear right at the start. After jumping out to a 13-5 lead midway through the first quarter the offense really found their way.
Doyle put the finishing touches on a Tornado break and junior Trent Billmayer quickly followed with a steal and layup of his own to push the lead to 17-5. Moments later Doyle was on the attack again dishing at the last moment to sophomore Caleb Zellmer for another easy score.
Turner didn't rely on steals alone to start the break either. Billmayer secured a long rebound off the defensive glass, turned and went coast to coast for another layup to extend the Turner lead to 21-5 with 1:40 left in the opening quarter.
Billmayer and Doyle continued to harass the Thunderbirds, turning defense into fast break layups at a blistering pace. Billmayer scored 10 first quarter points and Doyle 11 as the Tornadoes took a 27-5 lead into the second quarter.
Doyle began the second showing some range with a long three point bomb from the left elbow. Billmayer matched him on the next Turner possession from nearly the same spot to push the lead to 33-5.
Turner junior Trent Billmayer coasts in for two of his game high 24 points. Billmayer scored most of his points after steals turning them into easy fast break layups.
Turner kept their foot on the gas, Billmayer drove hard and then made a quick pass inside to sophomore Carson Maloney for a bucket. Senior Charlie Calvert then found sophomore Caleb Zellmer on the low block for another score inside to give Turner a 37-9 lead.
The Tornadoes took a 48-16 lead into the halftime locker room. Coming out of the break Turner outscored the Thunderbirds 20-9 in the third quarter and led 68-25 heading into the fourth quarter of action.
Turner slowed things down in the fourth quarter and walked away with a 78-33 win over the Thunderbirds. Billmayer led all scorers with 24 points on the night including 17 in the first half. Doyle added 13 for the Tornadoes and Calvert tallied nine. For the Thunderbirds senior Davontae Sullivan led the way with 12 points.
The Tornadoes sit at 2-3 in District 9C play and are 5-3 overall. This weekend the Tornadoes have another pair of conference tilts scheduled Friday they will be in Big Sandy to take on the Pioneers. Saturday they will host the North Star Knights.
