Boys HS Hoops: A Second Half Rally Lifts Brush Past Cornerstone 50-48

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UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OHIO – Junior DJ Dial stepped up big time when his team needed him to Sunday afternoon against Cornerstone Christian.

A layup with about six seconds left by Dial was the bucket that gave the Arcs a 50-48 victory during the Dunk 4 Diabetes Shootout.

“Me as a player, I just live for those types of moments,” Dial said about him attacking the rim to give Brush the win. “Coach Chet just walked me through it and helped me keep my confidence.”

John Hugley took home the game MVP as he finished with a team-high 14 points. DJ Dial contributed with 13 points along with Andre Harris finishing with seven points.

Cornerstone Christian would hold onto an early 14-11 lead after the first quarter.

Not even a minute into the second quarter, Cornerstone forced Andre Harris to pick up his third foul. A minute later Tyler Williams also picked up his third foul and both were forced to watch from the bench the rest of the half.

Michael Bothwell and his team would take advantage and would hold a sound 33-22 lead heading into the half.

The momentum quickly shifted in favor of the Arcs in the third quarter. An Andre Harris 3-pointer with just over a minute left is what started a quarter ending 8-0 that would put Brush within two points heading into the fourth quarter.

The Arc defense stepped up big in the second half, holding Cornerstone to scoring just 15 points in the final 16 minutes.

“At halftime, we had to adjust and that’s what this game is about,” Chet Mason said.

Hugley would start the fourth quarter off with an easy layup that would tie the game at 40. After that, it would become a defensive battle by both teams that would end up coming down to the final seconds.

Bothwell led all scorers for the game as he had 25 points to lead Cornerstone. Kendall Sanders had 12 points along with Titus Wheeler scoring eight points.

Brush would outscore Cornerstone Christian 28-15 to come out with a win. DJ Dial and John Hugley came up big for the Arcs late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

“He came through for us,” Coach Mason said about Dial in the final seconds. “That’s what leaders do.”