SAC Basketball: Catawba 78, Tusculum 65: Baker gets 300th

Jim Baker watches the action. Photo by ronnie Gallagher

By Ronnie Gallagher

rgallagher@salisburypost.com

Yes, Tusculum can brag that it has the South Atlantic Conference's second-leading scorer in Kyle Moore.

But Catawba can brag it has the second leading scorer in the SAC — ever — in Antonio Houston.

And yes, Tusculum can brag that Moore outscored Houston 31-25 on Saturday.

But Catawba can brag that it won the game.

Houston came up with every clutch shot in the Indians' 78-65 win that kept Catawba (14-7, 7-3) in a tie for first (in the loss column).

Catawba coach Jim Baker won his 300th game but the real drama came with just 20 seconds left and a Catawba win safely in hand. Baker called Houston over for a little chat. At the time, Houston had 1,998 career points.

"I told him I wanted him to get the ball and maybe get fouled," Baker said.

"He told me he wanted me to get 2,000 when he got his 300th," said Houston.

It didn't happen, but the home team left Goodman Gym with a smile — even if it was a bloody one.

"This was an absolute war," Baker said. "They're physical. They push and shove. I had four kids at one time bleeding. All of my wings had bloody lips. But they found a way to get it done."

Houston was one of those emerging from the locker room afterward with a red, puffed-up smacker. But he was anything but lip service on this day. He shot 10 times, hitting six, and went 12 of 13 from the foul line.

He kept the Indians in the game during a tough first half that saw Tusculum lead 33-31. While the rest of the team went 5 of 23, Houston hit four of his five shots.

Donald Rutherford, a 6-foot-7 dunking machine, who had averaged 30 points in his last two contests, was 0 for 3.

"I was a little frustrated," Rutherford said, "but Coach told me to play within myself and it would come," Rutherford said.

It came for all the Indians in the second half as they outscored Tusculum (12-10, 6-5) by 15.

But it wasn't Houston or Rutherford who jump-started the Indians. It was point guard Dominick Reid, who had been in a shooting slump. He even missed both of his shots in the first half. But three consecutive threes by the point guard gave Catawba a 45-39 lead.

"His shot has been struggling but he stayed late last night and worked," Baker said. "Those threes were picture-perfect."

The Indians would never trail again, thanks to Houston, who decided to be as physical as the Pioneers. Time and again he drove, resulting in baskets or free throws.

"My teammates were pushing me to shoot," he said. "I felt like I had it rolling in the first half and wanted to come out strong in the second."

Houston's signature play came after a steal by Rob Fields, who fed Houston coming in on the left. His double-pump, reverse layup kissed off the glass and resulted in a three-point play. He followed that with an 16-footer and Catawba led 60-53.

"Tony gets that butt bouncing around, he backs you in and then shoots that fadeaway," smiled Baker, who has seen these Houston scoring flurries so many times. "When he gets it rocking, he's pretty good."

A Fields drive and Lee Martin's two free throws gave Catawba its first double-digit lead at 64-53.

Justin Huntley took his turn to star, hitting a pretty floater in the lane and a corner 3 for a 69-56 margin and the Indians were cruising.

Although Baker's 300th win was assured, he wanted the spotlight on Houston.

The 6-3 senior passed Lenoir-Rhyne's Daniel Willis (1,980) and now only Wingate's Sean Barnett (2,324) is ahead of him as the greatest scorer in league history. It seemed appropriate to see the dynamic duo of Baker and Houston together with 20 seconds left.

"I asked him how many points he had and he said, 'I've got a lot,' " Baker chuckled. "I never thought he'd have that many points in this type of (grind it out) game."

"It was an All-American performance, in my opinion," Rutherford said.

So yes, Tusculum's Kyle Moore did walk out of Goodman Gym on Saturday as the leading scorer with 31 points. No one on Catawba's side cared.

"Scoring's not really the big thing," Rutherford said. "Getting a win is."TUSCULUM (65) — Moore 31, Taylor 12, Bennett 9, Boone 8, Troutman 5, Klempin, Stegerwald, Gagel, Grey. Catawba (78) — Houston 25, Fields 16, Huntley 10, Reid 9, Martin 8, Rutherford 6, Williams 4, Thomson, Coles.Tusculum 33 32 — 38

Catawba 31 47 — 33