High school boys basketball: Open Door loses tourney title game to Christian Heritage, 50-32

It was a difficult ending for the Open Door Patriots at their fourth annual Christmas Classic as they fell to the Heritage Christian Patriots, 50-32, for the tournament title.

Open Door had difficulties in all facets of the game. They shot 23 percent from the field, turned the ball over 24 times and were outrebounded, 35-19.

“It definitely wasn’t going our way tonight as far as shooting, passing, and in some cases rebounding,” Open Door coach Todd Wright said. “I told the guys sometimes it’s just not your night and I can live with that. We all have those nights. We just have more to focus on during practice, work hard, and get better every day.”

Heritage Christian led, 12-6, after the first quarter and started to pull away in the second quarter, courtesy of senior Jim Liwosz’s first-half performance. He scored nine of the team’s 15 points in the second quarter and had a double-double at the break with 14 points and 10 rebounds. He finished the game with 18 points, 17 rebounds, two steals, two blocks and two assists.

“Jimmy is incredible. He has the ability to step up and just take over,” Heritage Christian coach Dave Alligood said. “I told him I needed him big tonight. He came out big, he responded, couldn’t be happier for him.

Liswosz was named the tournament MVP.

Open Door had more turnovers in the first half (15) than they did points as they trailed 27-14.

“We made some mistakes that weren’t typical of us, things we’ve worked on in practice,” Wright said. “But like I said, I just look at it as an incentive. You have to give Heritage Christian credit. They did exactly what they had to do. They knocked down shots we weren’t expecting and they knocked down a bunch of them and they hit the boards hard.”

Heritage Christian nailed seven 3-pointers and compiled 11 total offensive rebounds that turned into multiple second-chance points and second-chance opportunities.

Open Door got within 10 during the third quarter at 32-22 when Dustin Hackney connected on a two-point jumper with 3:28 remaining, but that was the closest they would get for the remainder of the game.

Heritage Christian’s largest lead of the game was at 50-27 when Liwosz scored his final bucket with 2:41 left in the game. Open Door’s Carter Wright nailed two free throws and Dustin Hackney connected on a 3-pointer to close out the game.

Hackney had a team-high 11 points and was 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. He also had an assist. Cody Edwards chipped in with eight points and snagged seven rebounds.

Heritage Christian’s Hayden Hoffman had an efficient scoring night, posting 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting, hitting a pair of 3s. He had three rebounds and two assists. Victor Jones had 10 points, four rebounds and was a pest on defense as he came up with three steals.

Open Door fell to 1-6 on the season and will seek to earn a road win as it faces Lake Center Christian Dec. 22.

Heritage Christian 50, Open Door 32

Heritage Christian (6-1): Victor Jones 10, Jim Liwosz 18, Jacob Ocknuzzi 6, Steve Wallace 1, Hayden Hoffman 15

Open Door (1-6): Carter Wright 5, Dustin Hackney 11, Jared Bublinec 4, Luke Christofferson 3, Clayton Wright 1, Cody Edwards 8

H. Christian 12 15 15 8 – 50 Open Door 6 8 13 5 – 32

Fields goals: Heritage Christian 20 of 47, Open Door 10 of 43; Free throws: Heritage Christian 3 of 11, Open Door 9 of 10; 3-pointers: Heritage Christian 7 (Jones 2, Ocknuzzi 2, Hoffman 2), Open Door 3 (Carter Wright, Christofferson, Hackney(: Rebounds: Heritage Christian: 35 (Liwosz 17), Open Door 19 (Edwards 7)