5 Biggest Takeaways: Garner Magnet vs. Middle Creek (1/14)

<p>The top two teams in the South Wake Athletic Conference squared off on Tuesday night as the Garner Magnet Trojans hosted the Middle Creek Mustangs.</p> <h5>Team play powers Garner to victory</h5> <p>It was an all-around team effort that got Garner a win over Middle Creek in their first meeting in South Wake Athletic Conference action. The Trojans used a 21-9 performance in the third quarter to create some distance from Middle Creek and in the end, they got a 70-52 victory.</p> <p>2021 shooting guard <strong>Ben Hines </strong>led the way with 19 points, 11 of them coming in the fourth quarter. He made four total 3-pointers throughout including three during a big run the Trojans made to extend their lead. 2020 guard <strong>Daveon Dunn </strong>finished with 14 points and <strong>Christopher Nobles </strong>finished with nine points.</p> <h5>Defense slows down Middle Creek</h5> <p>The Trojans defense really turned things up a notch in the second half and it showed as they outscored Middle Creek 41-19 in the second half to run away with things in the end. As a team, the Mustangs shot just 36 percent from the floor and 26 percent from 3-point range. It wasn't Sam Perez' best game either.</p> <h5>Foul trouble dooms the Mustangs</h5> <p>Things didn't look good in the early going for the Trojans before they cracked the game open. At the half, they trailed 33-29 with 2021 Middle Creek guard <strong>Tharius Suggs</strong> leading the way with 11 points along with two made 3-pointers. Suggs controlled the pace for much of the game but when he got in early foul trouble in the third quarter, things slowed down a ton for the Mustangs on offense. While he finished with 15 points, 11 of those came in the first half. In the second half, he was contained by foul trouble.</p> <h5>Daveon Dunn makes plays for the Trojans</h5> <p>Daveon Dunn did a lot more than just score the ball for Garner. He did well to get his teammates out on the break and set them up for easy baskets as well. He was pivotal in finding Hines for key makes down the stretch to secure the lead. Dunn is a combo guard that knows when to get his points and when to get the ball to the hot scorer. </p> <h5>Perez will need to find his mojo in the next showing</h5> <p>2021 wing <strong>Sam Perez</strong> still finished with 12 points, but it wasn't his best outing of the season against a top foe in the SWAC. He knocked down six shots but it wasn't the Sam Perez I'm used to watching. He was a bit hesitant attacking the rim and his 3-point shot was a bit flat. Perez will need to be focused in the next meeting against Garner on Feb. 11. </p>