Woodard and Johnson both score 20, defeat Vikings at home

(Herkimer's Daniel Owens sinks one of his three three-point field goals on Saturday against the Vikings).

HERKIMER, NY – With another week consisting of three games played throughout the week, the Herkimer Generals men's basketball team ended at home on Saturday (1/24), collecting their ninth consecutive win in the process, defeating Hudson Valley 86-73.

Herkimer (17-2, 9-1) saw the Vikings shoot well throughout the first half which caused eight lead changes in the first 10 minutes. An alley-oop dunk by Ken Woodard (Bronx, NY) from Dantre Langhorne (Greenport, NY) kept the lead at two points (22-18) before a Daniel Owens (Albany, NY) three made it eight points (28-20) quickly. That's as big as the lead would get however, breaking a 34-34 tie in the final minute on a completed 'and one' by Jamell Johnson (Rochester, NY) and offensive rebound and put back by Julio Galay (Bronx, NY), making it 39-36 at halftime.

The second half saw the Generals pick up their intensity defensively, building a 10-point lead in the first three minutes after Johnson connected on another 'and one' play. Johnson finished the game with 20 points. It remained in the double figures throughout the rest of the game with multiple transition dunks and three-point field goals against the Vikings.

With the Generals connecting from all over the court, the lead ballooned to 18 (71-53) after Galay knocked down a couple free throws from a technical and Johnson hit two of his three-point field goals in the game within three possessions. Sophomore Carson Murphy (Mohawk, NY) joined Galay and Johnson in the final two minutes, scoring Herkimer's final five points, en route to a 13 point victory.

Herkimer's next game is against Mountain Valley Conference rival Mohawk Valley Community College on Wednesday (1/28). Both teams are nationally ranked with the Hawks winning their last 13 consecutive games. In their first matchup at Mohawk Valley, Herkimer won by 15 (80-65). Game time in the varsity gym is scheduled for 7 p.m. Up for grabs in the Mountain Valley Conference lead.

Score:

Herkimer 86, Hudson Valley 73

HERK (17-2, 9-1) Ken Woodard 20, Jamell Johnson 20, Carson Murphy 13, Daniel Owens 9, Kainan McCarthy 9, Dantre Langhorne 7, Julio Galay 5, Jallah Tarver 3 Totals: 34-11-86

HVCC (9-9, 3-7) Elijah Newsome 18, Nhoel Deverson 18, Valdon Baptiste 11, Garrett Pitcher 5, Tyler Dahlin 5, Liam Testo 4, Imre Megyeri 3, Brendan Archer 2, Jon Griggs 2, Blake Mosley 2 Totals: 24-13-73

3-point goals: Vikings 9 (Newsome 4, Deverson 4, Megyeri 1) Generals 7 (Johnson 3, Owens 3, Tarver 1)

Halftime:

Herkimer 39-36

Next Game: 1/28 vs. Mohawk Valley 7 p.m.

-Giorgio Varlaro