by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Wellington head boys basketball coach Rick Roitman said the key to the Crusaders victory was simple.

Score more points.

“We scored 32 points against Andale Tuesday night,” said Rick Roitman, Wellington head boys basketball coach. “That isn’t going to win you many ball games.”

Tonight Wellington would beat Rose Hill, 55-45. Better yet, Wellington had seven different scorers. And A.J. Snipes, who has been Wellington’s leading scorer for the first four games, wasn’t Friday night.

Cade Phelps led Wellington with 18 points while Ian King had 11. Snipes still scored 11, but at least this time he had help.

“I challenged them in practice,” Roitman said. “I told them, A.J. can’t do it all. Someone else had to step up. That happened to night.”

Cade Phelps, who led Wellington with 18 points, was called with stepping on the line on a fast break in the second quarter.

Wellington, playing in front of a home crowd for the first time this season, would open up a 12-8 first quarter lead, scoring exclusively on four 3-pointers. The Crusaders hit six for the game with Phelps hitting four.

In the second quarter, Wellington moved the ball more inside, scoring 20 points and taking a 32-20 lead into the locker room.

For the rest of the game, Wellington and Rose Hill would play tit for tat. The Crusaders opened up a 46-31 lead with 6:30 to play in the fourth, before Rose Hill would narrow the margin to 9.

The Crusaders upped the lead back into double digits and the Rockets could never get closer.

Wellington found more inside muscle. Senior Khalil Boyer scored six points to combine with King’s 11. Rose Hill really had no answers for that combination.

“I think there aren’t many teams we will play, who will be able to compete against a 6-5 and a 6-6 guy inside,” Roitman said. “Khalil is key to our offensive success.”

Roitman said he is going to call for practice this next week which is a departure from years past. Usually the final December game signified a break from practice as well until the state allowed teams to practice again.

Wellington is now 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Div. IV.

Wellington 55 Rose Hill 45

Rose Hill 8 12 11 12 — 45

Wellington 12 20 10 13 — 55

Rose Hill: McBride 5, McAllister 2, Rapp 4, Barron 1, Sapp 13, Campbell 8, Moore 4, A. More 3, Liechti 1, Forsberg 4. Total 11 (4) 11-18 45.

Wellington: Phelps 18, Rains 2, Walton 2, Frame 5, Snipes 11, King 11, Boyer 6. Total 15 (6) 7-12 55.

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