Hampshire runs past Rockford Christian

Rockford Christian came into the quarterfinals of the 69th annual E.C. Nichols tournament at Marengo on Thursday with a team that likes to push the pace.

That suits Hampshire just fine.

The Whip-Purs beat Rockford Christian at its own game and then some, shooting a blistering 67 percent from the field in the first half on the way to a 78-42 victory.

Hampshire (7-4), now 7-1 in its last eight games, will play host Marengo in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

"We like to run," Hampshire senior Justin Anderson said. "We've been playing together since fourth or fifth grade. We like to press and run. It's what we do."

Anderson led both teams with 19 points. Fifteen of them came in the first half as the Whip-Purs opened a 46-19 halftime lead thanks to a 30-point second quarter.

Hampshire coach Ben Whitehouse credited his team's defense with creating many of those fastbreak opportunities.

"We knew that team wanted to run and that's something we want to do too," Whitehouse said. "I felt we were able to frustrate them defensively and that enabled us to get some long rebounds. They were taking some bad shots and we were able to get out and go. Rockford Christian is a much better team than they played tonight but we'll take it."

Rockford Christian (10-3) never led. Trailing 16-10 after the first quarter, that deficit quickly swelled as the Whip-Purs opened the second quarter on a 15-3 run.

Nicholas Erickson and Collin Woods capped that run with back-to-back steals they converted on the other end - Erickson with a dunk and Woods a layup. Anderson contributed a floater and 3-pointer, then later in the half buried two more 3s as he continues to shake off an early season injury to his shooting elbow.

"He got going," Whitehouse said. "He's been working on his shot quite a bit. He's starting to feel healthy and starting to pull the trigger more."

Whitehouse was able to give his bench plenty of playing time in the second half. Freshman Keynan Davis scored 9 points, and Joenell Parreno made 5 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Woods and Jeremy Rosa both finished with 10 points, and Kyle Johnson and Erickson scored 7 each.

"It's a bunch of guys who enjoy playing together," Whitehouse said. "We share the ball, move the ball. Could be one of eight guys who could drop 15. It makes us hard to guard and enjoyable to play with because people are going to get the ball."