Holtville was hot in the first half, but Chilton County’s boys basketball team picked up the defensive intensity in the second half of Thursday’s game to earn a 72-56 win.

Holtville actually led, 32-31, at intermission—mainly because of the hot shooting of LaMilton Bennett, who was 3-for-3 from behind the arc in the first two periods, and Greg McLomb, who was 2-for-2.

In the second half, the homestanding Tigers (11-8) held Holtville without a 3-point field goal until the 2:03 mark in the fourth period, when Bennett drained his fourth triple.

“We picked up the intensity a little bit,” CCHS coach Donnie Hand said. “They were shooting the ball real well in the first half, but we stepped it up.”

Bennett would finish 6-for-7 from behind the arc, and Holtville was 8-for-9 as a team.

Bennett scored a game-high 24 points.

CCHS began pulling away late in the third period.

Grantland Karn drove and was fouled in the process of sinking a 10-footer with 2:10 remaining. Karn added the free throw to make it 43-37.

Karn led Chilton with 21 points. Darnell Spear was next with 14 points, and Taylor Hughes scored 13.

Nelson Williams also scored in double figures, with 10 points.

Hughes and Spear were their team’s leading rebounders with nine and eight, respectively.

Hughes also recorded four assists and four steals. Josh Williams contributed five assists and four steals.

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CCHS girls fade in second half

The girls game was also close at halftime, but the second half featured the hosts fading instead of surging.

Holtville led 18-17 at the break but opened the second half on a 21-1 run.

CCHS didn’t score a field goal until about 2 minutes left in the third period and would never threaten again.

Renee Lewis led CCHS with six points. Audrey Gentry scored five.

Holtville’s Taylor Veazey tallied a game-high 11 points.