HUMBOLDT — Humboldt High didn’t let its size and speed advantage against an overmatched opponent go to waste Friday.
The Cubs (15-2) maintained their spot atop the Class 3A Substate rankings with a 78-17 thrashing of visiting Cherryvale.
The game stood at 27-5 after one quarter before the Cubs ended the first half with a 27-0 run.
With the outcome decided, head coach David Taylor used the opportunity to get in plenty of reserves for a busy end to the regular season and a tough substate tournament on the horizon.
The theme for the night, Taylor said, was to see how his players functioned when the ball was not in their hands.
“I wish I could remember who said this, but you have the ball in your hands only about 5% of the time,” he said. “It’s how you fill your bucket with the other 95% that counts.”
To wit, Humboldt’s Logan Page, who scored seven, dominated on defense. Taylor counted three charges that Page drew on the night.
“We did a lot of really good things when the ball was not in our hands, on both ends of the court.”
With multiple steals leading to transition opportunities, Taylor praised Humboldt’s ability to move the ball without error.
“We had a size and speed advantage, and we did a good job of pitching the ball forward and getting everybody involved,” Taylor said. “They helped each other be successful and do things as a group.”
Of Humboldt’s 34 field goals, 22 came via assists, illustrative of his team’s unselfish play, Taylor noted.
Colden Cook scored 19 points on 9 of 10 shooting to lead the way. Sam Hull scored 14 to go with five rebounds.
Mason Sterling scored eight with six assists and three steals and a block.
“Mason has been playing very well,” Taylor said. “He comes in off the bench and energizes what we try to do.”
Keith Gomez, another reserve, added 11 points.
