MCKENZIE, Tenn. - The Bethel Wildcats returned to action Wednesday hosting the Crowley's Ridge Pioneers at 11 a.m. It was Elementary School Day with several hundred school children from Paris and Harrelson Elementary in attendance.
The Wildcats led the entire first half and carried a five point lead into the break at 48-43. The Cats led by as many as 15 in the second half and went on to win 109-98. The 109 points are the most scored in a game by the Wildcats this season.
Cayden Edmonson hit a free throw in the first minute of the game and became the 30th player in history to score 1,000 points or more in a Wildcat career. He finished the game with 13 points giving him 1,012 which is 28th all-time in program history. He passed former Bethel greats Cole Nelson and Mark McClintock.
Cameron Hicks led the Wildcats with a career high 25 points. He scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half. Charles Cobb and Chandler Clements came off the bench and scored 12 each. Bethel's bench had a 48-17 advantage in the contest. Bethel forced CRC into 22 turnovers.
The Wildcats shot 47 percent from the floor. They hit 12 three's and were 27-of-34 from the foul line.
The Pioneers shot 55 percent and knocked down 11 three's. The Pioneers under the guidance of former Bethel Assistant Coach Chris Perkins hit 25-of-35 free throw attempts.
Bethel moved to 9 -4 while CRC dropped to 4-9 on the season. Bethel is 5-2 at home on the year and 95-28 all-time in Crisp Arena. It was the third meeting between the two programs with Bethel holding a 3-0 advantage in the series.
The Wildcats are off until December 30 when they travel to Jackson to meet Lane College in an exhibition game. They return to Crisp Arena on January 2 to meet Stillman College in a SSAC match-up.
Coach Jeff Britt said it was a nice win to take to the Christmas break. "I am proud of the way our kids played today with such an early starting time, and the fact that we were able to have such a tremendous crowd here with our team and university. Crowley's Ridge played extremely well and shot lights out, but we played well enough to win and I'm glad they end on that note going into the break."
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