By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WAVERLY — The Minford Falcons were voted the number one seed in the Division 5 Southeast district basketball tournament.

And on e Monday at Waverly’s Downtown Arena, they showed why they have earned that kind of respect.

Bennett Kayser scored 30 points to lead three players in double figures as the Falcons downed the South Point Points 72-44 and advanced to the district finals on Friday at Ohio University at 6:30 p.m. against Ironton.

South Point took a brief early lead before the Falcons got into gear and took control of the game.

Brayden Hanshaw sank two foul shots and made a layup with 5:46 on the first quarter clock that gave the Pointers a 4-0 lead.

But Minford went on a 13-0 run before Ethan Layne followed up a missed shot with just 26 seconds left in the quarter and the Pointers were down 13-6.

Myles Montgomery sank the second of two free throw attempts and it was 14-6 at the end of the quarter.

The Falcons scored 10 unanswered points to begin the second quarter and led 24-8 before Ethan Hunt’s 12-footer at the 3:59 mark ended the run.

Bennett Kayser had back-to-back baskets to give Minford a 34-10 lead and then Layne hit a 13-footer to end that run and it was 34-12.

Curtis Glenn made a 3-pointer from the left corner for the Falcons before Layne hit a couple of jumpers to close out the half and South Point trailed 37-16 at the break.

Minford (22-1) quickly took charge to start the second half as Jackson Shoemaker and Montgomery hit back-to-back 3-pointers for a 43-16 lead with 6:12 on the clock.

Minford outscored the Pointers 16-10 in the quarter to lead 53-26.

In the fourth quarter, Minford outscored the Pointers 19-18.

Davon Lewis hit a 3-pointer and scored 7 points while Hanshaw had 5 points in the quarter.

Kayser and Ethan Cordle each hit a 3-pointer and scored 5 points for the Falcons.

Layne led the Pointers with 16 points with Hanshaw adding 11.

Montgomery finished with 12 points and Shoemaker had 11 for the Falcons.

South Point 6 10 10 18 = 44

Minford 14 23 16 19 = 72

SOUTH POINT (12-11): Brayden Hanshaw 3 0 5-6 11, Davon Lewis 3 1 0-0 9, Ethan Hunt 3 0 0-2 6, James Carey 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Evans 0 0 0-0 0, Kolton Layman Spurlock 0 0 0-0 0, Landen Vance 0 0 0-0 0, Ethan Layne 8 0 0-0 16, Scheyer Graham 0 0 0-0 0, Holden Walker 0 0 0-0 0, Hunter Chinn 0 0 0-0 0, Caesyn Pope 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 18 1 5-8 44. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None.

MINFORD (22-1): Maddox Porter 0 0 0-0 0, Curtis Glenn 2 1 0-0 7, Ashton Reeder 1 0 3-4 5, Myles Montgomery 3 1 3-4 12, Ty Borland 0 0 0-0 0, Tate Johnson 0 0 0-0 0, Mark Napier 0 0 0-0 0, Colt Donahue 1 1 0-0 5, Ethan Cordle 1 1 0-0 5, Wyatt Dyer 0 0 0-0 0, Jackson Shoemaker 4 1 0-0 11, Bennett Kayser 13 1 1-3 30. Totals: 25 5 7-11 72. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None