Sand Creek's Kamal Freeman pulls in a rebound against Palmer during the second quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)
Good bench play doesn’t always translate into big numbers. Sand Creek can attest to that.
Exactly two points came from Scorpions non-starters in their season-opening, 68-63 win at Palmer on Tuesday, but quality won out over quantity as reserves spelled foul-plagued teammates for just long enough.
“I’m so happy with my bench play,” second-year Sand Creek coach Mark Bowers said. “They played quality minutes, played hard and played their hearts out. Those were valuable minutes. The thing that scared me was getting in foul trouble and having to sit our better players. But our bench came alive. They were exciting and a lot of fun to watch.”
Jordan Freeman scored 14 of his game-high 24 points in the first half but played most of the second half with four fouls, and D’Shawn Schwartz added 22 as Sand Creek beat Palmer for the second straight season.
Fellow starters D’Andre Jaramillo and Kamal Freeman also played big chunks of the second half with four fouls.
With the game tied at 42 entering the fourth quarter, Schwartz keyed a 10-3 run with a driving layup and later a jumper from the lane that gave Sand Creek a 52-45 lead with five minutes left.
Palmer cut the deficit to 52-50 after Antonio Handford’s basket with 3:32 left, but the Scorpions hit big shots down the stretch and also connected on six of eight free throws over the final 1:10.
Schwartz, who missed his first five free throws, made his last three.
“I just had to keep my head up and tell myself not to stop shooting,” Schwartz said. “My jumper wasn’t falling, so I had to go to the rim a bit more. It’s all about adjusting to what’s going on.”
Isaiah Reese had 19 points for Palmer, which led 15-9 late in the first quarter after a run of 10 straight points.
Tyler Pelham added 14, including a layup off the glass that gave the Terrors a 39-35 lead with 2:22 left in the third quarter. Will Ross chipped in 12 points for Palmer.
“We came out knowing who we had to stop and what we needed to do to win,” Reese said. “Our defensive rebounding and giving them second chances killed us. As a leader, I have to step up and play a bigger role and get my team together.
Sand Creek’s Kamal Freeman pulls in a rebound against Palmer during the second quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer guard Tynan Velasquez goes up for a shot against Sand Creek’s D Shawn Schwartz, left, and Kamal Freeman during the second quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer guard Tyler Pelham, left, and Sand Creek’s Tony Taylor scrabble for a loose ball during the fourth quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. Sand Creek won 68-63. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer forward Will Ross drives toward the basket againt Sand Creek’s Elijah Hobdy during the first quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer forward Antonio Handford goes up for a shot against Sand Creek during the second quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer cheerleaders cheer for the Terrors against Sand Creek during the first quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer guard Isaiah Clausell-Reese dribbles the ball down court during the first quarter against Sand Creek Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer huddles during a time out in the second quarter against Sand Creek Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Sand Creek’s Bryce Peterson drives toward the basket against Palmer during the fourth quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. Sand Creek won 68-63. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer forward Antonio Handford goes up for a shot against Sand Creek during the second quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Sand Creek’s Mychal Hopper drives toward the basket during the fourth quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. Sand Creek won 68-63. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Sand Creek’s Bryce Peterson passes over the defense of Palmer’s Tyler Pelham during the first quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Sand Creek’s D Shawn Schwartz shoots over the defense of Palmer’s Tyler Pelham during the first quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer coach Jimmy Grantz watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. Sand Creek won 68-63. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer fans cheer for the Terrors during the fourth quarter against Sand Creek Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. Sand Creek won 68-63. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer’s Will Ross (32) and Mychal Hopper defend against Sand Creek’s Bryce Peterson during the first quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer forward Will Ross defends against Sand Creek’s Bryce Peterson during the second quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer cheerleaders cheer for the Terrors against Sand Creek during the second quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Sand Creek coach Mark Bowers talks to Devon Young on the sidelines during the fourth quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. Sand Creek won 68-63. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer guard Tynan Velasquez looks toward the bench during a timeout in the second quarter against Sand Creek Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer guard Tynan Velasquez races down court on a break away during the second quarter against Sand Creek Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer guard Tynan Velasquez drives toward the basket during the first quarter against Sand Creek Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer guard Tynan Velasquez drives toward the basket during the first quarter against Sand Creek’s D Shawn Schwartz Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer Cheerleaders perform during the second quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Sand Creek players cheer from the bench during the first quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer guard Tyler Pelham is fouled by Sand Creek’s Devon Young during the second quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Palmer guard Isaiah Clausell-Reese drives past Sand Creek’s Bryce Peterson during the second quarter against Sand Creek Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)Sand Creek’s D Shawn Schwartz goes up for a shot against Palmer’s Antonio Handford during the fourth quarter Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Palmer High School. Sand Creek won 68-63. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE)
