ELK CITY — Weatherford won its second game of the season Saturday in the Elk City Pioneer Classic, defeating Pampa, Texas, 85-33.
“I thought we shot the ball really well,” coach Derrick Bull said. “When this happens, it allows us to have a good night. Cade Jennings shot really well for us. Everyone played well and we played with great intensity.” Cade Jennings hit two 3-
Cade Jennings hit two 3-pointers in the first quarter, to give Weatherford a 10-5 advantage. Weatherford closed the first quarter outscoring Pampa 8-2 and Jennings scored another 3-pointer right before the buzzer. CJ Nickson had four rebounds in the quarter and Weatherford was ahead 18-7.
Weatherford played with great poise to start the second quarter. Pampa was only able to hit two free throws late in the quarter.
Weatherford outscored Pampa 22-2 in the second quarter with plays like Nickson passing the ball all the way down the court to Jennings for the easy fast-break layup. The Eagles were in front 40-9 at halftime and Nickson was one rebound shy of recording a double-double in the first half.
Nickson got his double-double in the third quarter and scored the first nine points for Weatherford. Weatherford was ahead 68-17 going into the fourth quarter.
Bull played some non-starters in the fourth quarter and Weatherford won the game 85-23.
Jennings scored 31 points. Nickson recorded his first doubledouble of the season, as he scored 30 points and had 13 rebounds.
“We have had the two best offensive players on the floor with Cade and CJ,” Bull said. “They play well together and if we can get them the ball, it will help our chances of winning games.”
With all the numbers Nickson is putting up as a freshman, Bull said this is expected because of his talent.
“This is something expected of him every night,” Bull said. “He has that kind of skill set and is a really good player. I bet he does this most nights he plays.”
Bull said with Jennings and Nickson being the two best players on the floor, it will make the other guys better, such as the Sage twins and Tai Vu.
“Some of our role play guys are a bit passive right now,” Bull said. “They know how good Cade and CJ are but we are confident in one another. We just have to make the extra pass and know we all can score. It is nice having five guys who can score.”
Weatherford is 2-0 on the season and plays 5:30 p.m. Thursday against Palo Duro, Texas, in the first round of the Community Christian Tournament.
“The Community Christian tournament is a stacked tournament,” Bull said. “Palo Duro is good year in and year out. We are ready to compete and see where we stack up against some really good teams.”