By Kyle Roberts
WINNFIELD, La. — It wasn’t the kind of team performance Ruston High acting-head coach Corey Deans had hoped for in a midweek game, but senior Aidan Anding put together a 28-point performance to lead Ruston High (14-4) to a 64-46 win over the Winnfield Tigers (10-7) Tuesday night road matchup.
“I think we played about as bad as we could have played,” Deans said. “We were a step slow and our reaction time — we were just off.”
Ruston took a 16-14 lead by the end of the first quarter, with Anding scoring eight of his 28 points in the period. Sophomore Ahmad Hudson added four points, while sophomore Keshun Malcolm and junior Zaterrion Sutton both added a basket apiece.
The Bearcats pulled ahead 29-18 after holding Winnfield to just four points int he second quarter. Anding scored five points after a made three-pointer and another basket, while senior Zheric Hill, Malcolm and juinor Mason Delaney all added two points apiece.
Ruston added a 19-point performance in the third quarter after Malcolm scored nine points on three three-pointers, while Anding finished with eight points in the stanza. Hudson added a basket as well, and the Bearcats led 48-29 going into the fourth quarter.
Anding added seven more points in the fourth, while Hudson added five. Malcolm finished with four more in the final quarter.
Anding’s 28 led the Bearcats, while Malcolm finished with 17. Hudson added 11 points on the night.
“We shot the ball okay,” Deans said. “Keshun and Aidan both did a good job shooting, and we forced turnovers by switching defenses. We have to get to practice and fix a few things and try to slow down. We didn’t play well on the road tonight, and we can’t play like that again Friday.”
The Bearcats return to action Friday. Feb. 7, on the road in a district matchup with ASH. Tipoff will be after the varsity girls finish.
