The Hundred Hornets’ Emery Smith, fresh off his worst shooting performance against Notre Dame, made up for it as he dented the scoreboard for a game-high 20 points en route to a 53-47 victory over Valley in the Mardi Gras back Yard Brawl Feb. 24.

Smith started the game off with a nice rainbow basket from beyond the arc for the game’s first bucket. ‘Jack senior forward Coleman Ueltschy returned the favor with a three pointer himself, but the Hornets’ 1,000 point scorer Corey Kimble, nursing an ankle injury and cold, added a deuce in the paint for a 7-3 Hundred lead.

After a made Valley free throw, Kimble made a picture-perfect baseball pass to Zach Phillips that resulted in an easy bucket, forcing Valley Head Coach John Kocher to call a timeout. After the timeout, the ‘Jacks’ Ronald Morris drilled a jumper at the top of the key for two points.

Later in the first period, Smith unloaded a no-look pass to a driving Phillips that scored two points for the visitors and Morris netted another jumper at the end of the first to narrow the Hornet advantage to 16-7.

Morris opened the second period with a basket at the top of the key and, after a short period of time, the Hornets’ Phillips made one of two free throws for Hundred’s first points of the period. Smith put back his own miss for a bucket and dished off another no-look pass to Phillips for a 21-9 Hundred lead.

The Lumberjacks’ Morris later added a three pointer to shorten the Hornet advantage to 23-15, and Hundred called a quick timeout. Valley outscored the Hornets 5-2 the rest of the way to close the gap to 26-20 heading into the locker room.

The ‘Jacks came out smokin’ in the third period and knotted the game at 37. However, Hundred responded with a 16-10 run for the victory.

For the ‘Jacks, Morris netted a team-high 19 points, including a trio of three-balls, while Coleman Ueltschy and Alex Henderson split 14 points that included two each from beyond the arc. Garrett Ueltschy and Matt Poling each netted six and Clay Ueltschy tallied a deuce for the Lumberjacks.

Smith paced the Hornets with 20 points, including a pair from downtown, while grabbing nine rebounds and stealing five ‘Jack passes. Logan McDiffitt netted 15 markers that included 7-8 free throws. He picked the pocket of several ‘Jacks that resulted in numerous assists and easy baskets.

Kimble contributed seven points in limited action, but was the leading rebounder with 10. He also had three assists and made 3-5 free throws. Phillips and Dalton Kuhn teamed for 11 points and six rebounds.

The ‘Jacks have a date with Bishop Donahue Saturday in the opener of the sectional, while Hundred takes on the winner of that contest March 3 at Hundred.