CHARLOTTESVILLE — A career-high 18 points from sophomore forward Brayden Kanitz wasn’t enough in Pendleton Heights 59-48 loss at Eastern Hancock Tuesday.
A tight game for three quarters, the Royals, ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press Class 2A poll, hit three 3-pointers early in the fourth period and led the rest of the way.
The game had nine lead changes, six came in the third quarter.
Pendleton Heights (7-15), on a bucket from senior guard Jamison Dunham, took a 37-36 advantage with 1:10 left in the third. Eastern Hancock (16-5) answered with a 3-pointer from senior Landon O’Neal, the game’s leading scorer with 20 points, in the final minute of the period to give the home team a 39-37 lead.
Off the bench, Eastern Hancock’s Grant Gray hit a couple of 3s early in the final period. Silas Spaulding also added one from beyond the arc in between the Gray treys to give Eastern Hancock a 48-39 advantage with 5:25 remaining.
Kanitz went 9 of 11 from the field. Dunham followed with 15 points, 10 came in the third quarter.
Dunham had two go-ahead baskets in the third quarter and sophomore Josiah Gustin had another, but the Arabians were unable to hang on against one of the state’s top Class 2A programs.
Pendleton Heights had the lead once in the first half.
After Eastern Hancock led 6-2, the Arabians scored the next five points. They took the lead after a bucket from Kanitz and a 3-pointer from Dunham.
Eastern Hancock regained control and led at the intermission 25-21. Kanitz and O’Neal led all scorers at the break with 10 points each.
Following Kanitz and Dunham in scoring, senior Luke Candiano had seven. Gustin scored six and senior Ethan Ross added two points.
For the Royals, Gray had 11 points, eight in the fourth quarter. Jacob Spaulding chipped in nine and Cole Rainbolt, all in the first quarter, had eight points. All seven Royals who played scored. Silas Spaulding had five points. Cyrus Burton scored four and Edric Miller added two points.
Eastern Hancock has won eight of its past nine games.
In a late schedule change, the Arabians finish regular season play Wednesday at Madison-Grant (12-8). The game was originally scheduled for Thursday. The junior varsity game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
The Royals finish regular season play Friday at home against Hagerstown (6-15).
