Tanner Curry scored 24 points and g
rabbed 20 rebounds Friday night as Martin rolled over a young Lawrence team 72-57.
The victory brings Martin’s season record to 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
Garrett Dill finished with 15 points and Garrett Altman added nine on three three-pointers.
Martin led the entire way, running out to a 14-4 lead in the first five minutes and led by 10, 24-14 at the end of the first quarter. Altman put the final touches on the quarter with a three in the final five seconds.
The Clippers ran that lead to 13 points, 37-24 at the half and led 52-38 going into the final eight minutes.
As potent as the Clippers’ offense was, it was their defensive play that made a difference. Playing a help defense that shut down the lanes for the Tigers, Martin never let Lawrence get any momentum.
“That is something we have worked very hard on in practice,” said Coach David Curry. “It is something we take pride in.
“We were trying to do it last year, too,” said senior Garrett Dill. “But we did not quite get there. This year we are reacting just a step quicker and it shows.”
“Offensively, we tell them that when your defender turns his head, move to the basket,” Curry said. “Movement without the ball is key to our offense and if you were watching you saw that it paid off all night, especially late in the game when they were getting tired. We were getting that step on them and moving into the passing lanes and the results were easy baskets inside.”
Martin will play again Dec. 28 and 29 at Holland Calvary and will bring in the new year with a game at Decatur Jan. 8. Their next home game will be Jan. 15 against Bloomingdale.
PHOTO: Garrett Dill (24) goes up for two of his 15 points for the evening. (Photo by Jon Gambee)