Camden Basketball Earns Big Wins Over Milan and Riverside

Last week, the Camden Lions secured two impressive home victories, defeating Milan on Dec. 10 and Decatur County Riverside on Dec. 13. These games showcased some of the team’s strongest performances early in the season, highlighted by relentless defense and numerous transition baskets that left opponents struggling to execute their offensive strategies.

In the matchup against Milan, the Lions dominated from the opening whistle. The Bulldogs managed just four points in the first quarter, while Camden surged ahead with 17. The Lions carried that momentum into the second quarter, building a commanding 35-13 lead by halftime. The substantial early advantage allowed Coach Dave Roberts to rotate younger players into the lineup, giving them valuable varsity experience. Camden maintained control throughout the second half, outscoring Milan in every quarter en route to a decisive 61-25 victory. The Lions showed balanced scoring, with Nowah Porter and Angelo Arnold each contributing 11 points, Ayden Melton adding 8, and several other players contributing to the total. In all, ten Lions scored during the game.

In their second contest of the week, Camden took on Riverside, employing a 1-3-1 zone defense that disrupted the Panthers’ offensive rhythm. The shift from their usual 2-3 zone caused confusion, leading to numerous turnovers and fast-break opportunities. Camden led 15-10 after the first quarter, but the second quarter proved pivotal, as the Lions erupted offensively to enter halftime with a commanding 36-19 lead. Although the second half was more evenly matched, Riverside was unable to mount a serious comeback. Camden secured a solid 66-49 victory, led by standout Ayden Melton with 20 points. Angelo Arnold added 15 points and played a critical defensive role. Other scorers included Porter (9), Gage Johnson (7), Isaac Moore (4), Jake Reynoldson (4), Matthew Arnold (3), Jake Barker (2), and Olten King (2).

The week concluded with a challenging game on Dec. 14 against Paducah-Tilghman during the Ken-Tenn Shootout in Calloway County, Ky. Despite holding a halftime lead, Camden struggled against Paducah-Tilghman’s full-court press in the second half, falling 65-56. Ayden Melton delivered another stellar performance, scoring 35 points in the loss.

The Lions wrapped up the week with a 7-2 record as they prepare for a challenging December schedule. They will host the Henry County Patriots on Dec. 17 before traveling to face the Fighting Irish at Houston County on Dec. 20.

Coach Dave Roberts’ Comments:
“We had two good home wins this week. Our defense really picked up and led to a lot of transition baskets in both games. We are starting to play more consistently on both ends of the floor. The game with Paducah-Tilghman was tough. We battled back from an early deficit to take the lead at halftime, but their press bothered us and led to a lot of transition points on their end. Hopefully, we can use that game as a learning experience moving forward.”