Blues Varsity Boys Basketball Opens Season With 70-45 Win Over Hickory Christian

Written by Athletic Facilities Manager and Coach Jarrett Van Meter

The boys’ varsity basketball team overcame a slow start to overwhelm Hickory Christian for a 70-45 victory, the Blues’ first under new Head Coach Nick Whitmore.

Senior Zach Drendel netted a career high 13 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists for the Blues. Whitmore said Drendel has worked hard to catch up after joining the team late due to the overlap of football season.

“Zach has done a tremendous job of getting acclimated and stepping into his role with this group in a short amount of time,” said Whitmore. “The toughness that he displayed on the football field translated to last night’s game and I am excited to watch his growth this year.”

Classmate Corey Henderson, who finished with a matching 13 points of his own, was equally optimistic about what Drendel’s growth will mean for the team moving forward.

“Zach and I have played basketball together since freshman year and he has grown tremendously,” said Henderson. “He has expanded his game from straight-line drives to being able to shoot outside shots at a high percentage. Zach’s phenomenal game on Friday goes to show how much his confidence has elevated his game.”

After the rocky first quarter, the Blues tapped into the student section’s energy — and 69 percent shooting from the floor — to put the Knights away for good and move to 1-0. Asheville School will hit the road on Tuesday to face the Spartanburg Day Griffins. Whitmore said there is no time to bask in Friday’s victory with the Griffins on the horizon.

“We treat every game on our schedule like the biggest one of the year and we view Spartanburg Day accordingly,” said Whitmore. “They are a well-coached team that will be ready to play. Winning on the road is difficult, but we will prep and be ready to go on Tuesday.”