Arnold scores 26 to lead CHS to double-digit victory over Merrill

Fred Kelly, fred.kelly@mdn.net

MERRILL Coleman boys basketball coach Clark Swerdan wasnt entirely satisfied with his teams performance on Thursday. But he wasnt complaining not after getting a decisive conference win on the road.

The Comets started the game strong, finished the first half on a run to build a seven-point halftime lead, and then continued to pull away after the break to beat host Merrill 48-34 in Mid-State ActivitiesConferenceaction.

We had a big win last week, and I was kind of hoping that would springboard us (into the rest of the season), said Swerdan, whose Comets picked up a rare overtime victory over Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart a week earlier.

That was our first win against Sacred Heart in 12 or 15 years, so that was really nice, he added. Tonight, we didnt play our best, but, hey, anytime you get a double-digit win anywhere in the conference, thats great, especially on the road.

Coleman star senior forward Connor Arnold wasted no time in getting his team going, scoring the games first seven points, while the Vandals committed six early turnovers. Arnold scored 12 of his game-high 26 points in the opening quarter, but Merrill ended the period on a 12-7 run to cut CHSs lead to 14-12.

Coleman's Jaden Bovee reaches for the ball after it was knocked from his hands during a game against Merrill Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020 at Merrill High School. (Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net)

Coleman's Jaden Bovee reaches for the ball after it was knocked from his hands during a game against Merrill Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020 at Merrill High School. (Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net)

Photo: (Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net)

Coleman's Jaden Bovee reaches for the ball after it was knocked from his hands during a game against Merrill Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020 at Merrill High School. (Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net)

Coleman's Jaden Bovee reaches for the ball after it was knocked from his hands during a game against Merrill Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020 at Merrill High School. (Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net)

Comets soaring: Coleman boys notch another road win

Both teams struggled to score for most of the second quarter, but after a couple of lead changes, Coleman ended the half on an 8-0 spurt on a steal and layup by Dominic Beauchamp, a free throw by Beauchamp, a layup by Cash Goethals, and a 3-point play by Arnold off of a strong driving layup to give the Comets a 26-19 edge at the break.

We really moved the ball and were unselfish and played really good defense, said Swerdan. ... We just did a solid job of taking care of the ball, and our defense was our biggest asset tonight. We had guys getting after it defensively.

Coleman outscored the Vandals 11-5 in the third quarter to extend to a 37-24 advantage, and the Comets led by as many as 17 in the fourth.

Beauchamp had nine points and three steals for the Comets, while Kam DeVrieze had five rebounds, and Arnold finished with eight boards and three steals to go with his 26 points.

Logan Heath paced Merrill with 14 points, while Michael Buckley scored 10.

Swerdan said he wouldve liked to put the game out of reach sooner, but his team didnt shoot as as well, either from the floor or from the foul line, as it is capable of doing.

We moved the ball really well and got a lot of good looks, but we didnt shoot our best, he noted. We had a lot of good looks that just didnt fall, or else we couldve opened up the lead a little bit.

But it was still a pretty comfortable win, even though we didnt quite blow it open, he added. They (Merrill) were never really able to get it going.

Coleman (3-3 overall, 3-2 MSAC) will host Beaverton on Wednesday.

The Comets also won the junior varsity game, 41-31, behind 11 points by Ayden Ruhle and nine points by Konnor Carbeno.

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Comets soaring: Coleman boys notch another road win - Midland Daily News