PORTLAND The Station Camp High boys basketball team had four days off since its last game due to inclement weather, but the Bison didn’t let the layoff deter them on Tuesday evening.
Station Camp High senior forward Yalen Reed maneuvers into the lane as Portland senior Caelum Utley defends during second-quarter action. Reed scored 11 points in the Bison’s 54-29 victory.
The unbeaten Bison jumped out to a 12-2 lead over the first five minutes and never looked back, cruising to a 54-29 victory at Portland.
Station Camp (23-0 overall, 9-0 in District 9-AAA) had three players finish in double figures, led by senior forward Yalen Reed and junior forward Kody Eden with 11 points each.
The Bison last played on Thursday and had not been in school for almost a week, so the team tried to keep its practice routine as close to normal as possible.
“We came in early this morning and watched film,” Eden said. “We just basically went through what we needed to go through to get ready for the game. We haven’t been in school for a week, so it’s been a little different.”
Station Camp never trailed, leading 16-6 after one quarter and doubling the advantage (32-12) by halftime.
Portland High sophomore guard Bryce Keith dribbles as Station Camp junior Thomas Zazzaro and as Bison junior Kody Eden trails the play during second-quarter action. Keith scored 10 points.
Bison senior guard Keaton Dotson also hit double figures, scoring 10 points.
“The guys played well, and you never know coming off of a long break how they’ll respond,” Station Camp head coach Seth Massey said. “But they played hard and played with a lot of energy.”
Station Camp won the two teams’ first meeting by a 69-21 margin on Dec. 8, but the Panthers (5-17, 0-9) lost two key players in that game.
With a healthy team this time around, Panther head coach Chris Carney was encouraged by the effort.
Station Camp High senior guard Keaton Dotson shoots a jump shot as Portland sophomore Dawson Simmons looks on during second-quarter action. Dotson scored 10 points.
“I thought we played really hard,” Carney said. “We still struggled to score in some spots, but I thought, defensively, that we were really solid and really made them work.”
Massey added, “They are a different Portland team, and we knew that coming in. We were able to jump out to an early lead and build some confidence, and that’s always big.”
Panther senior forward Caelum Utley, who left the first game in the first quarter due to illness, was a focal point of the Bison defense. Station Camp limited Utley to seven points.
“He played very well,” Eden said of Utley. “He was a big presence getting rebounds, so we definitely had to prepare for him.”
Sophomore guard Bryce Keith led the Panthers with 10 points, with six of those coming in the second half.
Portland High senior guard Eric Kirk drives toward the basket as Station Camp sophomore Jonathan Gillard defends during second-quarter action. Kirk scored two points.
Station Camp outscored Portland by a 22-17 margin in the second half.
“Some of the time in the second half wasn’t exactly prime time, but holding (Station Camp) to 22 points in the second half is a pretty solid effort,” Carney said.
It will not be the only trip for the Bison to Portland this season as the Panthers are slated to host the District 9-AAA Tournament.
“We’ve always played well here, and we like playing here,” Massey said. “I know Portland will do a good job (hosting the tournament). They’ve made some improvements and done some things in the gym that are nice, and they’ll do a good job with the tournament.”
It was Portland’s 10th consecutive loss in district play, dating back to last season. The Panthers’ last district victory came on Feb. 3, 2015, a 49-44 victory at Wilson Central.
Station Camp High junior point guard Chase Freeman elevates for a jump shot as Portland senior Caelum Utley looks on during first-quarter action.
Portland hosts Mt. Juliet on Friday, while Station Camp hosts Hendersonville.
“We know what we’ve got to do to get some of these games, and the good thing about it is that we don’t have to play the No. 3-ranked team in the state every night too,” Carney said.
Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.
STATION CAMP (54)– Kody Eden 11, Yalen Reed 11, Keaton Dotson 10, Chase Freeman 6, Hayden Baldwin 5, Jonathan Gillard 5, Sawyer Taylor 3, Thomas Zazzaro 3.
PORTLAND (29) – Bryce Keith 10, Caelum Utley 7, Jay Crutchfield 3, Austin Hicks 3, Grant Cook 2, Luke Jones 2, Eric Kirk 2.
Half: 32-12, Station Camp. Three-point goals: Station Camp 5 (Dotson 2, Reed 1, Taylor 1, Zazzaro 1), Portland 3 (Crutchfield 1, Hicks 1, Keith 1). Records: Station Camp 23-0 overall, 9-0 in District 9-AAA; Portland 5-17, 0-9.